Scholarship Deals : Educators, choirs unite to raise $200K to send kids to college at UNCF gala

Scholarship Deals :

When Kylie Hughes graduated from Southland College Prep Charter High School in 2021, she knew funding the next step in her education journey might be a challenge.

Now a sophomore at Spelman College in Atlanta, Hughes received a boost toward making that step happen when the United Negro College Fund granted her $3,000, which covered her books, health insurance and access to the college wellness center.

That scholarship money was crucial for Hughes, who is majoring in international studies with a minor in economics. She’s not alone in that.

“The UNCF is very important when it comes to helping students simply due to the lack of scholarships, in general, catering toward the historically Black colleges and universities,” she said. “A lot of the scholarships you look up when you’re applying to colleges are more geared toward the predominantly white institutions.”

Scholarships that can help get new students into college while potentially reducing the burden of student debt took center stage at a large gathering last week at the Tinley Park Convention Center.

The Superintendents’ Commission for the Study of Diversity and Demographics, a group that includes 37 school district leaders from the south suburbs and beyond, hosted the Investing in Our Future Scholarship Gala. The sold out event raised $205,000 which was double the original goal. That goal which has since been raised to $250,000 and contributions are being accepted through March.

The high school choirs from Rich Township, Southland College Prep and Kankakee School District 111 and Proviso West united at the event to perform as a mass choir of over 100 voices.

A major player in the event was the UNCF, which awards more than 10,000 scholarships to students at affiliated HBCUs and 1,100 other schools nationwide, according to materials provided by the organization.

Kylie Hughes is just one of those recipients. Her brother, Joshua Hughes, a 2020 Southland College Prep graduate now attends Howard University, a historically Black university in Washington, D.C.

“Every little bit helps so even if they don’t receive a large amount just knowing that amount is there for them,” he said. “They’ve funded a lot of minority students.”

The participating districts at the scholarship gala included Rich Township High School District 227, Bremen High School District 228, Matteson School District 162 and Homewood Flossmoor High School District 233.

Blondean Davis, CEO of Southland College Prep, said the superintendents have long strove to prepare their students well for college, and the partnership with UNCF brings them together once again to support a shared goal.

“What we have in common is the dedication to try to provide the best education and staff development but now this new project us raising money for scholarships,” Davis said. “After the pandemic, it was difficult for some families … the difficulty manifests itself when you’re talking about the choice of a college.

“If we can do something to take a little bit of the weight off that would be our goal.”

Johnnie Thomas, superintendent of School District 227 and president of the Commission, said the benefits of the scholarships extend beyond school campuses.

“One of the things that we as a commission have always believed in is really taking the time and investing into any of the educational practices that are going to enhance the lives of our children thus elevating our community,” he said. “So by relieving some of the burden that is put on our students because of cost of college or other educational programs, that is something that is going to allow for them to focus on their educational career and become the best future professionals in our society.”

Janice Neumann is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.

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