Tag Archives: college scholarship

Beyonce and Jay Z Make These Students Dreams Come True

Beyonce and Jay Z weren’t kidding about their promise to upgrade us. The power couple did just that for three high school seniors this past week.

During their OTR II tour stop in Orlando, forever hype man DJ Khalid announced the first three recipients of the BeyGood Initiative and Shawn Carter Foundation’s tour scholarship, which awards $100K to each student to go toward college enrollment.

Congrats to Keshawn Morgan. He’s more than deserving of that $100K bag with # 3 ranking of his class at Evans High School and president of Spanish Honor Society.

A day earlier in Atlanta, Beyonce and Jay Z awarded Karissa Jackson with scholarship for her community service work and 3.8 GPA at Discovery High School. Thanks to the Carters’, Karissa will be joining Kennesaw University’s 2019 class.

She told Gwinnett Daily Post that she was blown away by the scholarship.

“I had no idea I was going to get that. It’s really exciting and I couldn’t stop crying because it’s really a blessing to awarded something like this.”

The next student to go Apeshit over Jay Z and Beyonce’s generosity is Emily Geray from Miami Beach High School.

Emily will take her talents and award money to study criminology at Florida International University.

And the Carters’ are just getting started. They are dropping scholarship money in Arlington, Phoenix, LA, San Diego, New Orleans, Houston, Santa Clara and Seattle. Boys and Girls Club members are nominated for the scholarship award.

If you need another reason to see this tour, black excellence is def one of them.

Nicki Minaj Accepts Fans Offer to Pay College Tuition

Hol’ up, Hol’ up Hooolllld up. You mean to tell me my $18G’s of college debt could’ve been eliminated with one (numero uno) tweet to a celeb?

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Well, for a lucky few die-hard (they certainly are now) Nicki Minaj fans that most certainly was the case.

The fairy-tale ending–every college grad prays, wishes and pleads for–happened Saturday. A bold Nicki Minaj fan pleaded her case via Twitter.

Nicki was willing to shell out the coins, if the fan could prove she was a star pupil.

Thus began the put it on Minaj’s tab challenge. For those unaware of how it works–us mere broke and low-paying college grads put in offers for the “No Frauds” rapper and she epically hooked us up.

The tweets speak for themselves.

After a few hours Nicki cut off her purse strings, but it goes without saying she’s our #WCW.

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FGF | 8-Year-Old Surprised With College Admission

 

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How fly is 8-year-old Jordin Phipps?

The Texas native isn’t even in middle school yet, and already, like, today, she got accepted into the University of North Texas.

Not an easy thing to pull off.

Jordin managed to by reciting the university’s daily mantra, while wearing one of their T-shirts, and having mom record the spiel.

Which is actually quite empowering. It put a pep in my step, anyway.

“I am smart. I am a leader. Failure is not an option for me,” Jordin declares in the video. “Success is only moments away.”

Jordin’s mom, Nichole Smith, a University of Texas alumna, posted the video on Facebook earlier this month.

ABC News reports, University of North Texas school officials got wind of Jordin’s enthusiastic school pledge and wanted to help her.

They contacted me on Wednesday and said they wanted to present her with a scholarship,” Smith, a special education teacher, told ABC News.

Did they ever. Joined by some UNT cheerleaders, an early, early, early admission letter to join the class of 2030, aaanndd a $10,000 scholarship check–usually reserved for high school kids–school’s director of admissions surprised Jordin  during her elementary school assembly.

This makes the pre-teen the youngest student ever admitted in the university’s history.

And she already knows her major–school teacher, like her mom.

You better come through young scholar.

Issa Rae Raises $500G’s for Alton Sterling’s Kids

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So on a scale from one to 1000, this week ranked one millionth in terms of shittiest.

Amirite?

I’m still in a fragile state to recap what you already know. What I’m sure the whole world now knows. As if they didn’t already. Hell, the King of Pop dedicated a whole song about it in the ’90s. More recently, Grey’s Anatomy star Jesse Williams did a whole breakdown of our beef like an MC–with bars just as insightful as Nas, Common, Mos Def and Talib Kwali–freestylin’ about our appropriation and marginalization.

Actor and Activist Jesse Williams Drops Truth Bomb During BET Awards

Yet, two weeks later and one day after Independence Day (isn’t it ironic?) Alton Sterling becomes not only a hashtag but # 505 on this year’s list–so far– of fatal shootings by police. Not even a full 24 hours later did Philando Castile land # 506.

What’s scary is not only who will be # 507, but the near certainty another Black man or woman will fill the casket. It’s a hopeless reality but no doubt one that’s been contemplated now more than ever.

It makes you wonder if Alton Sterling’s 15-year-old son will live long enough to step foot on the college campus  filmmaker Issa Rae helped foot the tuition for. The Misadventures of an Awkward Black Girl took to GoFundMe page this week urging supporters to finance a better future for the slain Louisana man’s five offspring by donating up to $200K.

The star/creator of HBO’s new comedy Insecure surpassed her fundraising goal in 9 hours; garnering $567,056 for the Sterling family.

“If you feel helpless, but want to play a small part in easing the burden of #AltonSterling’s family, consider donating to this scholarship fund for his 15-year-old son (and his other kids).

*ALL* funds raised will go to Alton Sterling’s family,” writes Issa.

Following Issa’s lead Los Angeles director Xavier Burgin posted a Go Fund Me page for Philando Castile, which raised $96,040. To help support the Minneapolis man’s girlfriend and daughter, who both watched him get gunned down reaching for his license. The disturbing encounter was streamed live on Facebook.

Philando’s sister also started one to pay for his funeral.

It’s good to know people care enough to give, but Beyonce put it best: “we dont need sympathy. We need everyone to respect our lives.”

We’re still waiting.

We’re done waiting.

We’re woke and it’s time to start fighting.

FEEL GOOD FRIDAY | Marriage Equality for All | Jilly from Philly Schools Future Writers

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I’m still smiling from SCOTUS’ landmark decision to permit every American (YES!, you, you and you) in every state, to walk down the aisle and into the arms of their beloveds today. In sickness and health, for richer or poorer til death do them part. Or divorce. Hey, ish happens, even he gets that.

As my five-year wedding anniversary creeps up this summer, I’m so overjoyed that members of my family, friends, can finally experience the same act of love and commitment (y’all can jump the broom!!) that was at one time only granted to us, straight couples. Love really does conquer all.

And who knew 9 justices wearing long robes would give us the long-awaited love lesson we’ve all been waiting for. For the first time in my adult life I’m proud to be an American. For two reasons: this moment of human rights and dignity for ALL and because my president can do this.

Let’s keep FEEL GOOD FRIDAY stories flowing. First, I want to apologize for my absence these past few weeks. But I’m back, bishes and ready to spread some good vibes.

So let’s get to it.

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Jilly from Philly is partnering with Mahogany greeting cards (an African-American imprint of Hallmark) to create college scholarships for future scribers.

The national scholarships will be handed out through Jill Scott’s Blues Babe Foundation, which provides mentoring and college tuition assistance to students in poor areas of Philly (where else?), Camden, NJ and Delaware.

The two winners (from anywhere in the US) will each receive a $10,000 scholarship and an invite to a three-day writing workshop at Hallmark headquarters in Kansas City for Summer 2016. The workshop, specifically catered to students, is to shadow a Hallmark writer.

Mahogany writers will also infiltrate Camp Jill Scott, annual summer camp for North Philly junior high students, to teach creative writing.

Here’s what the three-time Grammy winner said about them teaming up.

“My love and passion for writing is reflected in my music and my poetry and I’m sincerely grateful that Mahogany decided to partner with the Blues Babe Foundation to help nurture young minds.”

Yet another reason to buy Black cards at local pharmacies. For more info about the merit-based scholarships click here.

Happy Feel Good Friday, babes. Love wins.