11.01.2024
Sallie Mae Awards $400,000 in Scholarships to Increase Access to Higher Education
To celebrate National Scholarship Month, Sallie Mae announced the latest recipients of its Bridging the Dream Scholarship for High School Seniors. For the fourth consecutive year, The Sallie Mae Fund has awarded deserving students up to $10,000 each in scholarships to support their higher education goals. This year’s 40 recipients are attending a record number of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)—from Howard University in Washington, D.C. to Morehouse College in Atlanta, Ga.— and are pursuing a diverse range of degrees, including business, engineering, fine arts, humanities, and more.
Since 2021, Sallie Mae has awarded over 900 scholarships worth nearly $4 million in partnership with Thurgood Marshall College Fund through the Bridging the Dream Scholarship programs, which also include the Completing the Dream Scholarship and the Bridging the Dream Scholarship For Graduate Students. These scholarships are part of the company’s continued mission to help students access and complete higher education—especially those from historically underserved communities.
Applying for scholarships is critical in helping students and families responsibly pay for higher education, and an important part of the planning process. In 2024, 88% of students attending HBCUs relied on scholarships and grants to cover the cost of college, according to our How America Pays for College 2024 report. In addition to the Bridging the Dream scholarships, Sallie Mae provides Scholarship Search by Sallie, a free resource that connects students and families to hundreds of scholarships, helping them navigate the process easily with no registration required.
Meet This Year’s Bridging the Dream Scholarship Recipients
Aeneas Moore
Hometown: Conyers, GA
School: Howard University
Major: Architecture & Design Studies
Alijah Dean
Hometown: Murfreesboro, TN
School: Tennessee Tech University
Major: Engineering
Amaya Morene
Hometown: Jacksonville, FL
School: Howard University
Major: Humanities
Amos Prince
Hometown: Schenectady, NY
School: Rochester Institute of Technology
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Aniyah Prescod
Hometown: Conyers, GA
School: Hampton University
Major: Architecture
Ashlie Kearns
Hometown: Fayetteville, FL
School: East Carolina University
Major: Computer Science
Bryson Long
Hometown: Eads, TN
School: University of Tennessee at Martin
Major: Cyber Security
Charity DeBrew
Hometown: Greensboro, NC
School: University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Major: Music Performance
Chris Moore III
Hometown: Macon, GA
School: Howard University
Major: Music Performance
Darius Williams
Hometown: Baton Rouge, LA
School: Morehouse College
Major: Business
David McGowan
Hometown: Rockaway, NJ
School: Kean University
Major: Technology
David Riley
Hometown: Atlanta, GA
School: Morehouse College
Major: Business Administration
Devin Miller
Hometown: Dallas, TX
School: Prairie View A & M University
Major: Civil Engineering
Heaven Rowell
Hometown: Stoughton, MA
School: Howard University
Major: Business
Ihuoma Mgbahurike
Hometown: Arlington, TX
School: Howard University
Major: Communications
Imani Monday
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
School: Howard University
Major: Fine Arts
Iyanna Whipple
Hometown: Columbus, OH
School: Howard University
Major: Business
Jada McClide
Hometown: Locust Grove, GA
School: Clayton State University
Major: Health Science
Jayden Locklear
Hometown: Huntersville, NC
School: University of North Carolina at Charleston
Major: Biology
Journi Robinson
Hometown: Crofton, MD
School: Spelman
Major: Humanities
Kaandis Mance
Hometown: St. Petersburg, FL
School: University of Miami
Major: Music in Flute Performance
Kennedi Leary
Hometown: Covington, GA
School: Florida A&M University
Major: Fine Arts
Kennedy McCormick
Hometown: Riverview, FL
School: North Carolina A&T State University
Major: Marketing
Kenneth Stevenson
Hometown: Lawrenceville, GA
School: Morehouse College
Major: Science
Lillian Richards Smith
Hometown: Ellicott City, MD
School: Spelman College
Major: Science
Malani Martin
Hometown: Hanover, MD
School: Winston-Salem State University
Major: Sports Management
Margaret Mirembe
Hometown: Somerville, MA
School: Winston-Salem State University
Major: Kinesiology
Matthew Major
Hometown: Tampa, FL
School: Spelman College
Major: Human Resource Management
Mayah Prelow
Hometown: Mesquite, TX
School: Grambling State University
Major: Nursing
Mayte Segura
Hometown: Providence, RI
School: Vassar College
Major: Undeclared
Mikalah Williams
Hometown: Dulles, VA
School: Spelman College
Major: Science
Mira Reynolds
Hometown: Raleigh, NC
School: North Carolina A&T State University
Major: Chemical Engineering
Otis Lofton
Hometown: Columbus, GA
School: Howard University
Major: Pre-Law
RanDaijah Prince
Hometown: Atlanta, GA
School: Howard University
Major: Biology
Rianna Mafnas
Hometown: Winnfield, LA
School: Southern University and A&M College
Major: Fine Arts
Ryhmin Rawls
Hometown: Philadelphia, PA
School: Morehouse College
Major: Pre-Psychology
Teyana Porter
Hometown: Pensacola, FL
School: Florida A&M University
Major: Psychology
Victoria Pettway
Hometown: Wheatley Heights, NY
School: Tuskegee University
Major: Engineering
Xochitl Poindexter
Hometown: North Hills, CA
School: Hampton University
Major: Liberal Studies
Yakouba Keita Jr.
Hometown: Stonecrest, GA
School: Morehouse College
Major: Engineering
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