Access Reports
First "Writers of Passage" Scholarships awarded, second year of commitment pledged
The Sallie Mae Fund developed the Writers of Passage Scholarship program with the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education (NAFEO) to underscore the importance of writing skills in the college admissions process for African-American students.
The emphasis on writing is particularly relevant in light of the changed structure of the new SAT which requires more writing. The Sallie Mae Fund has just committed to a second year of funding support for the program.
Offering a unique approach to access philanthropy, the program provides awards to students and the universities they attend. Applicants were asked to write an essay describing the obstacles they overcame in their path toward college. More than 200 students submitted essays that were judged by a panel of nationally recognized authors and journalists.
The four winning applicants each received a $5,000 college scholarship and each of their universities received a $20,000 grant to help improve student outreach and retention. This year’s winners are: Michael Brockington (Alcorn State University), Chaqua Williamson (Clark Atlanta University), Sharon Shivers (Sojourner Douglas College), and Yarbough Miller (Morris College).
“Too many of our students are not being taught the art of writing and too few write well. Our hope is that, through this partnership and opportunity, we are able to encourage students to become active readers and writers while making minority students aware of the college financing options available to them,” said Lezli Baskerville, President and CEO of the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education.
