For DonorsFor Applicants

My Brother's Keeper Scholarship

$500
1 winner$500
Awarded
Application Deadline
Aug 4, 2024
Winners Announced
Sep 4, 2024
Education Level
High School
Eligibility Requirements
GPA:
2.5 or higher
Education Level:
High school student
Financial Status:
Low-income
State:
Michigan

College can feel impossible to afford when you’re a low-income student. 

Rising tuition costs have resulted in only half of low-income students enrolling in college as compared to over 80% of their high-income peers. Low-income students often don’t receive the support they need to pay for and successfully complete college. 

In order to help break down these barriers, this scholarship seeks to make higher education accessible for low-income students living in Michigan. 

High school students from low-income families living in Michigan with a 2.5 GPA or higher may apply for this scholarship. 

To apply, introduce yourself, your goals for the future, and how this scholarship would help you achieve them.

Selection Criteria:
Ambition, Need, Boldest Bold.org Profile
Published May 3, 2024
Essay Topic

Tell us about yourself, your goals, and how winning this scholarship would help you achieve your dreams.

400–600 words

Winners and Finalists

Winning Application

Gabrielle Black
University Preparatory Science And Math High SchoolDetroit, MI
Receiving this scholarship would be incredibly beneficial for me in pursuing my college education and achieving my career aspirations in business. One of the most significant ways this scholarship would assist me is by alleviating the financial burden of tuition fees and enabling me to afford essential resources, such as a reliable computer, which is crucial for my studies. As a prospective business major, having access to a decent computer is essential for completing coursework, conducting research, and developing skills in digital business tools and software. This scholarship would provide me with the means to acquire such equipment, ensuring that I can fully engage with my studies and excel academically. Moreover, beyond the immediate financial relief, this scholarship would also contribute to my long-term goals. One of my ambitions is to establish my own salon business. By reducing my financial worries during college, this scholarship would allow me to focus on gaining knowledge and skills related to entrepreneurship and business management. It would provide me with the opportunity to learn about budgeting, marketing strategies, and customer relations—key aspects that are fundamental to running a successful salon business. Furthermore, the flexibility provided by this scholarship would empower me to explore different avenues within the field of business. While my primary interest lies in entrepreneurship and salon management, I am also open to discovering other aspects of business that may align with my skills and passions. This scholarship would give me the freedom to pursue diverse courses and experiences that could shape my career path and help me identify the best-fit major for my future endeavors. In addition to academic pursuits, this scholarship would significantly ease the financial strain on my family. Covering tuition and living expenses can be a daunting challenge, and this support would lessen the financial pressure on both myself and my mother, who has been a constant source of support and encouragement throughout my academic journey. In conclusion, receiving this scholarship would not only facilitate my educational and career aspirations but also contribute to my personal growth and development. It would enable me to pursue my dream of owning a salon and provide me with the tools and knowledge necessary to succeed in the competitive business environment. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity this scholarship represents and committed to making the most of it to achieve my goals and become a successful professional in the business world.
Laylah Anderson
Michigan State UniversityDetroit, MI
After successfully completing my undergraduate STEM degree, I have set a clear hierarchy of goals that I am confident in achieving. Firstly, I am determined to pursue internships in the medical industry that will allow me to enhance my skills, knowledge, and experience. With my STEM degree and unwavering dedication, I am confident in building a strong network of connections with medical professionals. I am committed to excelling in the medical field through diligent preparation for the MCAT and participating in health-related internships. Lastly, I am excited to take on the role of a mentor for young black girls, just like myself, and make a positive impact in their lives. My goal is to become a doctor and inspire young black girls like myself. I am considering taking a gap year before entering medical school to better prepare for the MCAT and increase my chances of getting into a good school. During this time, I plan to study extensively and gain valuable experience through an internship that will enhance my resume and make me stand out to admissions teams. This will help me become a more well-rounded individual. After working very hard to get into medical school, I will do the same work and receive my MD and white coat. The whole medical school process is tedious and will get rough, but I will get through and succeed. Once I begin working in the hospital fully as a resident and meet all the criteria to be an attending physician, I want to start a research project to observe how types of cancer can affect people. I want to investigate this because of a family member that was very close to me and they had a rough time with cancer and also a smooth process. There were many ups and downs before she was cancer free. As a young girl, I always dreamed of pursuing a career in the medical field. Now, I want to give back by mentoring young black girls who share the same aspiration. I want to be the resource that I never had but desperately needed. Through Google, I found some helpful resources, but it wasn't until high school that I discovered a club sponsored by the University of Michigan that provided me with invaluable guidance. My mentor, a fellow black girl, was a blessing that came out of nowhere and instantly clicked with me. I want to pay it forward and provide the same support and guidance that I received to young black girls who want to pursue a career in the medical field. Winning this scholarship would be a massive step towards achieving my dreams. As someone who has always been passionate about education, I know that furthering my education is essential to accomplishing my goals. Unfortunately, the cost of tuition and other expenses can be overwhelming and make it difficult to pursue higher education. This scholarship would give me the financial support I need to continue my studies and achieve my dreams. With this scholarship, I could focus on my education and not have to worry about the financial burden of paying for my education. It would be an amazing opportunity and a dream come true.
Miniya Lothschutz
Muskegon Community CollegeConklin, MI
I am a senior at Coopersville High School. I am taking classes at Muskegon Community College to get a head start on my college degree. I aim to get a master's or doctoral degree in clinical psychology. I want to work in a school or with youth. Also, I would like to work in a prison. I am a firm believer in prison rehabilitation so that when they get out they can live a better life. I want to help people work through their struggles. I would love to do that by sharing the gospel with them, too. I want to share my story of coming to Christ with others. I have already got early admission to a couple of schools that will help me pursue psychology. I have got a couple of scholarships for my merits, but I have to pay for college myself. Even though I come from a low-income family, I do not want to let money stop me from accomplishing my dream. This scholarship would help me start getting the money I need to get to college.
Qunesha Barnes
Saginaw Valley State UniversityDetroit, MI
Hi , my name is Qunesha B Barnes. I'm eighteen years old and I'm currently a senior at Voyageur College Prep High school . Through the adversities in my life I managed to maintain a 3.0 GPA throughout high school. During my childhood, I experienced several years of instability and trauma because of drug abuse from my stepfather. I witnessed my mother become a survivor of domestic violence while trying to raise me and my newborn brother. At the tender age of 11 years old I was already affected by something negative due to home and life and circumstances. After almost having to repeat the 6th grade due to many absences, my school career had a rocky start. So, I used education as my anchor and motivation toward a better future. Although I went through a lot as a kid , over the last 3.5 years I have worked hard to earn the best grades and be a well-rounded student. I have been accepted to all of the colleges that I most desired to attend and ranked eighth in my senior class out of one hundred students. Due to my resilience and commitment to my future goals and success, I am confident that accomplishing my career goals is within my reach. My aspiration is to become a Registered Nurse or a Social worker, specifically a case worker for Child Protective Services. I see myself determined to achieve more, rather it’s going for a License in nursing after choosing Social work, or going for Social work after choosing nursing. I see myself married and in love in my hometown, Atlanta Georgia. Overall, I see myself happy, healthy, and surrounded by love and positivity. This scholarship will benefit me to not only achieve my career goals, but my overall life goals being that it’ll pay for college tuition, housing and other fees because my family financially cannot . This scholarship could reduce stress that having to manage and balance work and school would cause. It'll allow me to reduce working after my college classes every day to pay for personal things and keep me out of student debt. Receiving this scholarship will allow me to focus my energy and attention on my academics completely. I’ve worked hard throughout High School in order to receive as many scholarships I can for my higher education. Winning this scholarship would mean a lot to me.
LayLa Sherman
Tennessee State UniversityDetroit, MI
Hello, My name is LayLa Sherman. I am 17 years old living in Detroit. I attend Cass Tech High School, and I have a 3.5 GPA. I’ve endured a lot of hardships in my life, the most recent one being the loss of my father. I think I deserve this scholarship because of my determination and perseverance. This past February, I lost my father unexpectedly. I was 16 years old and had no idea what to do with my life. I gave up on school, my social life, and everything under the sun which is a feeling I’ve never felt. My junior year was already super difficult due to the fact I was virtual and was having a hard time keeping up with all the work and assignments, but once it took a turn for the worst I gave up. School has always been my number one priority, I’ve never taken my grades or school lightly. Putting my best foot forward in school means a lot to me because I know for a fact graduating and going to college is my ticket to greatness and success. Not only do I want to make myself proud, I have a family behind me who backs me and cares about me unconditionally and I want to make them proud. February of 2021 was the worst month of my life and it continued on from there until now, but I never gave up on myself. I remained a high gpa of a 3.5 for the remainder of my junior year and I also was accepted into the National Honor Society. The loss of my father was definitely difficult but it put a fire under me to work harder, keep the faith, and make my father proud. I hope you all see that I am a really determined student just trying to make it out. College was always a dream of mine and I want to continue down that path for my father. It’s really important that I keep his legacy going and I also keep the faith. My mother is all I have left and I know that she is counting on me to make her proud and stay focused in school. Even though I am struggling I’m still determined to make something out of myself, graduate from high school, go to college, graduate college, and start my life as an young adult which is something I know my father would’ve wanted.

FAQ

When is the scholarship application deadline?

The application deadline is Aug 4, 2024. Winners will be announced on Sep 4, 2024.