Hip Hop Mogul Jay Z Offers Scholarships for Young People Overcoming Obstacles

Jay Z and his mother Ms. Gloria Carter run
the Shawn Carter Foundation

We often hear people complain about how Black entertainers and those in hip hop "need to give back more to the community."  We should all realize some entertainers do give back however many don't publicize it.

Since 2003, to the tune of a reported $2.9 million dollars, a top hip hop celebrity has been giving back in terms of offering educational opportunities to young people from challenging backgrounds.  And we hope some young people in our community apply and take advantage of it. 

Shawn Carter AKA Jay Z, is definitely giving back with his Shawn Carter Scholarship Fund (SCSF). The scholarship is run by Jay Z's mother Ms. Gloria Carter, who is the CEO, and Co-Founder.  According to the Shawn Carter Foundation website the fund "was founded on the belief that any motivated individual in need should have the opportunity to further his or her education. By removing some of the financial burdens associated with going to, surviving in, and graduating from college, the SCSF plays a vital role in increasing college access and success for many motivated yet under-served youth and young adults.

The SCSF provides individual grants, paid directly to the educational institution, to every student who qualifies and reapplies yearly, from admission to graduation. The grant can be used to cover tuition expenses and related supplemental educational expenses such as books, lab fees, travel and select costs of living. All Shawn Carter Scholars are required to “give back” by conducting community service and by serving as mentors to younger, aspiring Shawn Carter Scholars."

What is great about this scholarship fund is that a young person can still have a chance to get a scholarship even if their academic grade point average is less than stellar.  If a young person comes from a less than perfect background but have promising aspirations the scholarship program will still consider them.  Here are the criteria for the scholarship:

• High school seniors, students with GED diplomas, undergraduate (2 year or 4 year) college students, and students at vocational or trade schools
• US citizen or Permanent Resident
• 25 years old or younger
• Minimum 2.0 GPA

Here is a Demographic Snapshot of the Awardees in the past according to their website...

Kudos to Jay Z for creating a scholarship for students who work hard to achieve a better life for themselves while overcoming tremendous setbacks and obstacles in life. The focus of the scholarship should be applauded "SCSF attracts candidates from all backgrounds, nation-wide. They all have a compelling desire to pursue higher education, in spite of many personal, socio-economic setbacks, including teen pregnancy, former incarceration, interrupted schooling, poverty, and homelessness. They are hardworking, resilient and determined individuals who want to make positive contributions to their local and global communities, and they turn to the SCSF to make their ambitions and dreams possible."

For more information visit the Shawn Carter Scholarship Foundation website.  If you know a young person who could use the grants for college please let them know about it.

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