Black
Solutions Foundation
Awards New Scholarships
BSF
Founding Members Morris Downing (l), and Janarl Thompson (r) present
scholarship check to Kodjo Wilder and Joseff Barmore.
The
Black Solutions Foundation, a national organization recognizes this
year's winners of their Holistic Scholarship program, a scholarship
designed to reward students for being dedicated to their scholarly
pursuits.
Englewood,
NJ -- Joseff Barmore of William-Patterson
University and Kodjo Wilder of Boston University were presented their
checks after being selected to receive their unique scholarships.
Both gentlemen are from Englewood New Jersey and both are graduates
of the Nubian Academy of Englewood, one of New Jersey's best mentoring
organizations.
Joseff
Barmore is a graduate of Paramus Catholic High School in Paramus,
New Jersey. He has managed to get into William-Paterson University
on his merit and the hard work of his parents. He as always been a
good student but he also has a distinct quality about himself. He
wants to be a business owner who can hire from within his community
and one day build new revitalized communities. He has a strong attachment
to family and community. As a young leader in The Nubian Academy,
he has been a model for the younger boys around him. While striving
for personal excellence, he has made his mother and father so proud
they can only smile at his achievements.
Kodjo Wildes is a graduate of Bronx High School of Science in New
York. Kodjo feels he has found his area of interest within the medical
industry. The medical field has a new candidate and the community
will one day have a wonderful doctor who cares. He is smart and pays
attention to detail. His mother just cannot stop talking about her
two boys and one girl she has raised. "I am beyond proud",
said as only a mother can say it.
In attendance was New Jersey State Assemblyman Gordon Johnson who
expressed appreciation for BSF's involvement in the betterment of
the community. He awarded both recipients a New Jersey State Legislators
Citation of Excellence. Also present to offer his congratulations
was Wayne Hamer of the New Jersey Bergen County Black Caucus. Black
Solutions Foundation founders Janarl Thompson and Morris Downing presented
the scholarships. "I am personally proud to have had something
to do with your early development", said Morris Downing, BSF
founder. "You are fine young men and I applaud you and your parents
for a job well done"
A
New Form of Scholarship:
Many organizations that award scholarships have noted that much of
their efforts are inefficient due to the funds that are lost when
a student either fails to keep up the standards that are expected
of them or decide to drop out of school. The BSF Holistic Scholarship
is designed to provide money for the seriously committed student.
After successfully completing each academic year, the student is rewarded
with a grant for the next year. This continues each year until he
or she graduates. Upon graduation the student is given what the Black
Solutions Foundation calls a transition grant. This grant is designed
to assist the student with post graduation expenses. The grant can
be used to reduce any present school debts, pay for advanced degree
programs or any additional training needed for a given profession.
This grant may be 3 to 4 times the yearly amount to a max of $10,000.00.
All grants are determined by the amount of funds raised for this scholarship
and the BSF Board of Directors.
To be
considered for the honor you must show and complete a number of things.
Among them are:
- You
must show a commitment to the African-American community
- Chosen a profession or skill needed in the community
- Successfully passed the interview process
- Must presently attend a 4 year college and have completed the first
semester.
Candidates are given extra points if they are presently or were ever
members of a mentoring program such as Boy Scouts.
