Grassroots scholarship helps HBCU college students

ROCKINGHAM — With commencement quick approaching, one Richmond County native is doing his half to ease the monetary burden for potential faculty college students.

Jawnte Everette isn’t any stranger to the preliminary sticker shock that may be related to pursuing greater schooling. He has attained a Bachelor of Arts in Prison Justice with a minor in Sociology, a grasp’s diploma in Organizational Management in Prison Justice, and is presently working in direction of a Ph.D. in Prison Justice.

At the moment an English Trainer at Ashley Chapel, Everette fondly recollects his time at Shaw College, a Traditionally Black School and College (HBCU). After finishing his preliminary diploma program, Everette grew to become invested within the success of HBCU’s, selling attendance to new Richmond County graduates.

“Numerous time HBCU’s are ignored,” Everette says, however his time there helped him become the skilled he’s immediately. “The reality of the matter is, lots of people hear traditionally black, and after I went to my HBCU, I didn’t meet many individuals that regarded and acted like me. We might have the identical pores and skin tone, however you could have African Individuals from totally different components of the world, and my understanding of African American is totally different than theirs,” Everette continued.

Everette actively mentored college students seeking to proceed their schooling however felt like he might do extra.

A yr in the past, Everette, with a push in the suitable path, began the I Can Scholarship. “I used to be going to attend till this yr to do it, however my mother was like, effectively if you consider it, the title is I Can, so why don’t you do it now,” Everette stated.

In response to Everette, the I Can Scholarship program goals to supply monetary help to distinctive college students who shall be attending a Traditionally Black School and College.

The scholarship, nonetheless, is about extra than simply pecuniary help.

This yr’s official media launch states, “the first goal of the I Can Scholarship is to develop, improve, and inspire learners by providing mentorship and profession improvement alternatives.” It goes on to say, “I Can Scholarship seeks to foster a deeper appreciation for HBCU’s and the invaluable function they play in offering high quality schooling, selling range, and empowering college students of all backgrounds.”

In its first yr the scholarship fund was capable of endow Isiah McRae with $1,000 in direction of tuition. In response to Everette, McRae simply accomplished his first yr at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical College with a 4.0 GPA, whereas majoring in Engineering.

On Might 18, one other $1,000 award was granted to William White. Like McRae, White may even be attending NC A&T. White shall be enrolled within the Willie A. Deese School of Enterprise and Economics within the fall.

Everette plans on persevering with to develop his grassroots scholarship effort by increasing fundraising and serving to multiple pupil at a time.

“I simply met with the committee, and we stated, ‘Hey, why don’t we do two scholarships subsequent yr?’ We will do a $1000, and a $500. So I believe its rising and persons are beginning to see the impression of what the I Can Scholarship can do for college students,” Everette proudly exclaimed.