Dear Potential Scholarship Awardee,
Please read this letter in its entirety.
Over the past several years we have been challenged like no other time in our lives. Life, as we’ve known, has been forever changed. We continue to live through a perfect storm of events. The coronavirus pulled back the curtain on the true state of health in America and the world was able to witness what our communities of color have known for a long time – there are inequities in the distribution of wealth and health that leave us more vulnerable to disease and premature death than our white counterparts. Then, while in the midst of trying to survive the pandemic, a white police officer in Minnesota had no reservations about kneeling on the neck of George Floyd for eight minutes and 46 seconds until he was dead. An undeniable act of hatred witnessed around the world. Racism and racial inequality, just like the coronavirus has affected every aspect of our lives and in some cases our deaths.
The Black Lives Matters movement has served to galvanize the universal cry that we matter and we will no longer tolerate the blatantly unfair and unjust treatment that we’ve dealt with in the past. It is a commitment to struggle through this together and imagine a world where our children have the academic, economic, social, and political power to thrive. Education of our youth matters. We have to grow our own leaders, doctors, lawyers, artists, firefighters, police, and business owners.
Please review the following information carefully; and if you have any questions or concerns, please contact me immediately.
Guidelines have been provided regarding eligibility for this scholarship.
• Submit an essay on one of the following topics: Each essay should be at least 150 words.
• Discuss your personal and educational experience during the COVID-19 Pandemic. How has the pandemic affected your studies, your family, your friends, and yourself?
• We are looking for ideas on how to increase the awareness of the Foundation and our number of supporters. Be sure to address the following points:
• How has this scholarship helped you to further your education?
• What new ideas can you suggest?
The foundation plans to do whatever we can to relieve our students’ financial burden so they can continue their education in whatever form it takes. We would like to encourage as many people as possible to consider making a tax-deductible donation. Please reach out to family members and friends to support the foundation. It’s an investment in the lives of the students we sponsor as well as an investment in their future. No donation is too great or too small, and as always it will be very much appreciated.
• Spring Semester College Transcript – must be in good standing with your college.
• GPA must be a 2.5 or above
Please email the needed requested documentation to my personal email address (cpogue224@gmail.com) no later than September 1, 2023. If you have any questions, I can be reached at 917-576-5195. Lastly, please note, scholarship funds will not be released until all needed information is submitted.
Sincerely,
Craig E. Pogue
Chairperson