For DonorsFor Applicants

Janice Howard-Robinson Scholarship

$730
1 winner$730
Awarded
Application Deadline
Sep 2, 2024
Winners Announced
Oct 2, 2024
Education Level
High School
Eligibility Requirements
Education Level:
High school senior
State:
Massachusetts
Race:
African American
Field of Study:
Business, health care, or political science

Education is a gift that lasts a lifetime and can completely change the trajectory of one’s life. 

Education is particularly important for inner-city youth in order to open new doors and create more opportunities for the future. In addition to improving personal outcomes, education is a powerful tool for communities as well, allowing people to raise up those around them and create positive change.

This scholarship seeks to support students who plan to use their education for the betterment of the community around them.

Any African American high school senior in Massachusetts who is majoring in business, healthcare, or political science may apply for this scholarship opportunity, but applicants with community service experience and 3.5+ GPAs are preferred.

To apply, tell us what adversity you have overcome, how those situations have impacted your goals, how your career will make a difference in the world, and how you will use your education to help your community. Additionally, please upload a headshot in business-professional attire.

Selection Criteria:
Ambition, Drive, Impact
Published May 6, 2024
Essay Topic

What adversities have you had to overcome during your scholastic career and how did you overcome them? How have those situations shaped your vision and your future goals? Please explain how your career path will make a positive impact on the world and how you plan on utilizing your education to serve your local community.

400–600 words

Winning Application

Rocklyn Clarke
O'Bryant School Math/ScienceRandolph, MA
At the age of nine, my journey into the world of computer science began at the Boys & Girls Club of Dorchester in Boston, where I met my mentor, Ashley. Unlike most of my peers who preferred playing “cool math games,” I was captivated when Ashley introduced us to Scratch, a programming platform for game development. I spent hours creating new programs and projects, showcasing them to anyone who would watch. As time progressed, more kids engaged in the lesson plans, creating their own projects. As a result, Ashley organized trips to technological spaces like MIT and Harvard, heightening my fascination with computer science. As my passion for computer science grew, so did my technical skills. By seventeen, I had challenged myself to master various programming languages, including Python, Java, JavaScript, GLSL, and C. I spent countless hours working on numerous applications, constantly pushing myself to learn more. The best part was that I genuinely enjoyed every moment of it. People around me were often perplexed by my enthusiasm for coding, joking about my fixation on the topic, but I was never discouraged. I found solace in programming different projects and deepening my knowledge of computer science. When my pre-calculus teacher left for maternity leave in junior year, I would escape to the computer science class next door. Instantly I was accepted, and when given the opportunity, I eagerly assisted in helping multiple classmates with their code, providing guidance and advice on what they should implement in their program. Along this journey, I recognized the profound impact mentors like Ashley can have. Growing up in Dorchester, most of my peers came from broken homes and lacked role models to look up to and without guidance, many faced challenging paths. This realization inspired my mother and I to create BYTE Ventures, a non-profit organization dedicated to bridging the digital divide and bringing STEM education to underserved communities. After countless hours of planning, meetings, and building connections, our vision finally became a reality with our first pilot program this past April. In the heart of Roxbury, I had the privilege of teaching fifteen young minds the basics of Scratch and programming. Like my mentor, I designed various projects and lesson plans that fostered critical thinking among my students. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we were able to provide breakfast and lunch, relieving parents of any cost associated with their child's education. At the end of our program, one of my students approached me and said, “You are my favorite teacher, Mr. Rocky. Are we doing this again in the summer?” A month after the program concluded, I learned that another student had started hosting their own Scratch lessons via Zoom to teach their classmates what they had learned. Hearing this filled me with a profound sense of accomplishment, knowing the positive and lasting impact I was having on these kids' lives. Coordinating BYTE Ventures reinforced my commitment to becoming a role model for young people, much like Ashley was for me. My ultimate goal in pursuing a computer science degree is to inspire more young minds to explore the world of technology. I envision myself developing connections to provide further support for BYTE. I intend to plant seeds of innovation, inspiration, and curiosity among those from disadvantaged backgrounds, demonstrating that they too, can succeed in this wonderful field. This summer, I will devise another proposition to inspire more kids to explore the path of computer science. After all, if a single line of code has the power to change the world, imagine what a community of young coders could do.

FAQ

When is the scholarship application deadline?

The application deadline is Sep 2, 2024. Winners will be announced on Oct 2, 2024.