The HBCU Alum Scholarship Committee is proud to announce its 2024 Book Scholarship Winners. There were 440 applicants and so many deserving candidates, which made this year's selection extremely challenging. Five highly qualified and well-deserving young scholars have been selected by the committee as recipients:
- Darian Dawson, from Orangeburg, SC. Ranked #3 in her graduating class, she is a member of National Honor Society, Delta Gems, Health Occupations Students of America, Future Business Leaders of America and Captain of Volleyball Team, where she has earned multiple honors including DPOY. She will be attending Claflin University this Fall to study Biology.
- Janae Gerald, from Mullins, SC. Ranked #1 in her graduating class, she is Senior Class President, played Basketball, Tennis, Track, active in FCA, National Honor Society President and Beta Club Secretary. She won Miss Mullins High School, was PTK Vice-President/All-State Academic Team and will be headed to Spelman College this Fall to study Biology (Pre-Med).
- Mishanti Johnson, from Kansas City, MO. Active in National Honor Society, Black Student Union, KC Youth Ambassadors, HBCU Walking Billboard, President of KCPS Lit and was a finalist for Kansas City Choice Award for best youth business. Captain and MVP of her Volleyball team, she will be headed to Southern University to study Business.
- Justin Riddick, from Atlanta, GA. Salutatorian of his graduating class, he’s active in National Honor Society, Beta Club, 21st Century Leadership Program, Alpha Academy, Page in the Georgia State Capital, Senior Class VP, Basketball and Football. The winner of several awards in Theatre, he’ll be headed to Savannah State University to study Visual Arts.
- Jaida Wilson from Wesley Chapel, FL. Class President (elected three terms), the Advanced Placement, Dual Enrollment, and Honors Programs Scholar was Bulls Nation President, AV Club Founder, Kappa Phi Delta Founder, National Honor Society Historian, an American Legion Award Winner and will be headed to Howard University to study Biology (Pre-Med).
All candidate applications were evaluated on scholastic achievement, school / community involvement, and performance on a written essay based on the following topic: “The Importance of Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the 21st Century.”
Terrence Caldwell and Alex Shuler established their initial HBCU Book Scholarship back in 2009 to target HBCU-Bound students in their hometown. HBCU Alum has furthered that mission, as its goal is to help encourage talented high school students to consider HBCU’s as a viable choice for higher education. The HBCU Alum Scholarship Committee congratulates these talented students and wishes everyone that applied the best of luck in their respective collegiate journeys.