The scholarship process is a year-round endeavor, and there’s no particular month that will offer more opportunities for students than another. However, we’re reminded during honored months of the year of additional resources that can be useful for scholarship seekers and their families. This is absolutely true during Black History Month.
Black History Month spotlights the achievements of Black individuals, organizations, and foundations and their impact on the history of the United States. Generous private scholarships from companies, organizations, and foundations exist for students regardless of age, ethnicity, gender, career goal, or demonstrated skill. But in honor of Black History Month, here are some scholarships from organizations and companies dedicated to advancing the education of Black and African American students in the United States.
Ron Brown Scholar Program
The Ron Brown Scholar Program offers scholarships to Black and African American high school seniors who are US citizens and demonstrate financial need. This scholarship program is named after the late Secretary of Commerce and is given away in his honor for his dedication to public service. Around 20 $40,000 awards are available and given in increments of $10,000 for each of the recipient’s four years of education. Applications open in September and close on December 1 each year.
Sphinx Competition
The Sphinx Competition scholarship is open to Black and Latino classical string players. This Junior Division competition is open to musicians ages 17 and under, and the Senior Division is open to musicians ages 18–30. All applicants/competitors must be US citizens. Awards vary depending on competition placement, with the lowest award at $5,000 and the highest at $50,000; the Junior Division’s lowest award is $3,000, and the highest is $10,000. Applications open in the spring, and the deadline for entry falls in October each year.
Related: Learn how to turn your hobbies into scholarships here
Emerging Black Architects Scholarship
ZGF Architects offers the Emerging Black Architects Scholarship to support Black undergraduate and graduate students entering their final year of an accredited Architecture, Interior Design, Urban Planning & Design, or Landscape Architecture degree program. Applicants must include an advanced-level design project of up to five pages, a short description of the project, an essay, and a letter of recommendation. Work with a partner is accepted, but individual projects are highly preferred. Two winners are chosen, and recipients are also eligible for an optional paid summer internship at one of the firm's five US offices. The application period opens in November with a deadline in January that is sometimes extended.
BAM Scholarship
The Blacks at Microsoft (BAM) Scholarship is designed to encourage Black employee growth in technology-related careers. Applicants must be high school seniors of African descent and plan to attend a four-year US college or university for Engineering, Computer Science, Computer Information Systems, Business Administration, Finance, or Marketing in the fall of the contest year. An essay, a recommendation letter, a minimum GPA of 3.0, a passion for technology, and demonstrated leadership at school or in the community are all required. Five renewable awards of $5,000 and 50 one-time awards of $2,500 are available. The application process starts in January each year and ends around mid-March.
Black and Positively Golden Scholarship
McDonald’s and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund have partnered to offer scholarships to outstanding students attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Over 60 students will be chosen to receive up to $15,000 for the academic school year ($7,500 per semester). Applicants must be US citizens or legal permanent residents; enrolled full-time as an undergraduate first-year, sophomore, junior, or senior at an HBCU; have a GPA of 2.7 or higher; and demonstrate leadership abilities as well as financial need. The application opens around mid-November and closes toward the end of April.
Related: Here's why the scholarship search matters, plus some quick tips and tricks for success!
Some final scholarship search advice
A reminder for all scholarship seekers: Look for scholarships in every possible expanded scholarship category that may align with you as a person. If you’re a student who is Black, identifies as female, and is pursuing an Engineering degree, don’t limit your search to “Scholarships for Black and African American students.” Searching only for scholarships based on your race or ethnicity limits your search and the possible awards you could find. This particular scholarship search should include, at a minimum, the following expanded categories:
- “Scholarships for Black/African American students”
- “Scholarships for women”
- “Scholarships for Black/African American women”
- “Scholarships for women in Engineering”
- “Scholarships for Black/African American female students in Engineering”
- “STEM scholarships”
- “Engineering scholarships”
- “Scholarships for women in STEM”
- “Scholarships for minority students”
- “Scholarships for minority students in Engineering”
- “Scholarships for minority students pursuing STEM careers”
- “Scholarships for Black/African American students pursuing STEM careers”
- “Scholarships for Black/African American students pursuing Engineering careers”
Related: Find out the top 3 scholarship search mistakes to avoid
Expanding your scholarship search spotlights every potential aspect of who you are. Race or ethnicity is only one of many categories to search for—and only one important part of your complete identity. As with all search categories, scholarship seekers should continue to revisit these terms every semester as more awards are created and added throughout the year. Good luck in your scholarship search, and Happy Black History Month!
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