25 Scholarship Opportunities for Dayton-area African-American Students

The Dayton Foundation and the African-American Community Fund, a component fund of The Dayton Foundation, offers scholarship opportunities for African-American students planning to attend a two- or four-year college, a historically Black college or university (HBCU) or a technical school. The following is a selection of scholarship opportunities for the 2023-2024 school year, with scholarships ranging from $450 to $4,000. These and other scholarship opportunities are available through the Foundation's ScholarshipCONNECT℠ system daytonfoundation.org/scholars. The application deadline is 4 p.m., Friday, March 3, 2023.

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The Wahid Abdullah Memorial Fund, Founded by Jim Bucher provides scholarships to Montgomery County graduating seniors who wish to pursue studies in communications or journalism at a four-year institution.

• Award: Up to $1,000

Dora A. Carson/Keith A. Byars Scholarship Fund was established to assist graduating Dayton Public Schools’ seniors who are scholar athletes and exemplify academic, school and community involvement, and spiritual growth. Graduating seniors from any Dayton Public School who have participated in a varsity sport may apply.

• Award: Up to $1,000

Hazel Carter Scott Scholarship Fund provides scholarships to Montgomery County African-American students who plan to attend a four-year, postsecondary institution on a full-time basis. Students must have a 2.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale.

• Award: Up to $1,500

Marquetta D. Colbert/Colbert Family Health Scholarship Fund was established in 2018 to award a scholarship to a graduating Dayton Public Schools senior who plans to major in nursing. Students must have a 2.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale.

• Award: Up to $1,000

The Culture Works Leonard P. Roberts Memorial Scholarship Fund recognizes Mr. Roberts’ career as a businessman and his passion for the arts by offering scholarships to Dayton Region graduating high school seniors or local college students who demonstrate participation in and patronage of the arts. Students must have a minimum 2.0 GPA and be a graduating senior living in the Dayton Region or a college student, at any level, living in and attending college in the Dayton Region.

• Award: Up to $4,000

Pearl A. Dale and Audrey Parker Scholarship Fund awards scholarships to Greater Dayton students wishing to further their education at an accredited college or university. The fund serves as a memorial to these two African-American sisters and longtime Dayton Public Schools educators, both of whom overcame odds to graduate with master’s degrees in the 1950s.

• Award: Up to $1,000

Robert S. Early, Sr., Memorial Youth Scholarship Fund provides scholarships to Dayton Public Schools students who participate in golf, baseball or softball extracurricular activities.

• Award: Up to $1,000

The Major John F. Harris, Jr., Memorial Scholarship Fund affords Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps graduates from Dayton Public Schools the chance to further their education at an institute of higher learning. Students should demonstrate leadership skills through exemplary participation in school and community activities, have a GPA in the 2.0-3.0 range and have passed all sections of the Ohio Graduation Test.

• Award: Up to $500

Nelson J. Houck and Alvin R. Houck Scholarship Fund offers financial assistance to Montgomery County high school graduating seniors who have participated in cross country or track and field activities and are planning to attend a two- or four-year college, community college or university. Students must be planning to continue participating in cross country or track and field in college.

• Award: Up to $1,000

William A. Lumpkin Endowed Scholarship Fund supports students graduating from Dayton Public Schools or Trotwood-Madison City Schools.

• Award: Up to $1,000

C.J. McLin, Jr., Scholarship Fund provides college scholarships to help Montgomery County residents who have demonstrated academic success, financial need and community involvement. Students must be attending a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) or a four-year Ohio college or university.

• Award: Up to $1,000

Paul R. and Frieda M. Miller Scholarship Fund enables a deserving student, who is of good moral character, to attend an accredited college and pursue a degree in education. Students must have a minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale, be a Dayton Public Schools graduate and be accepted to a Historically Black College or University (HBCU). Preference may be given to a student who plans to major in Education.

• Award: Up to $2,000

Idotha Bootsie Neal Scholarship Fund assists a graduating Dayton Public Schools senior in furthering his or her education at Central State University. The fund was established in memory of the first female, African-American City of Dayton Commissioner and former director of Central State University-Dayton campus.

• Award: Up to $1,000

PALS (Promoters of Art, Literature and Science) Foundation Heritage Scholarship Fund helps Miami Valley students, who demonstrate creativity, leadership and service, pursue their studies in art, literature or science at an accredited two- or four-year college, university or technical school.

• Award: $750-$1,250

Herbert Scott Memorial Scholarship Fund provides scholarships to graduating Dayton Public Schools seniors who are currently in foster care or have aged out of foster care.

• Award: Up to $1,000

Scott Neal Simpson Scholarship Fund provides scholarships to Montgomery County high school graduates who plan to attend an accredited college or university. Students must have participated in an organized high school sport.

• Award: Up to $500

Twentig Incorporated Endowment Fund (Willis "Bing" Davis Scholarship) provides scholarships to graduating seniors who wish to pursue a degree in the arts, specifically visual arts.

• Award: Up to $1,000

Trotwood Madison Education Foundation Scholarship Fund recognizes the efforts of graduating seniors whose academic achievement during their junior and senior years has shown significant improvement.

• Award: Up to $1,000

Professor E. Champ and Alma Warrick Scholarship Fund awards scholarships to high school seniors graduating from a school in the Miami Valley and who plan to attend Wilberforce University or Central State University and major in liberal arts.

• Award: Up to $1,000

Doris H. Wilson Scholarship Fund was established by friends and colleagues in honor of Doris Wilson, founder of Multi-Cultural Supporters, Inc. Students must have a GPA between 2.0 and 2.9 on a 4.0 scale and demonstrate active participation in activities and organizations that are related directly to supporting or developing diversity.

• Award: Up to $450

Deloris L. Winslow Scholarship Fund helps support Clark and Montgomery County minority students pursuing degrees in social work, political science, counseling, psychology, social services, or the treatment of alcohol and substance abuse. Students must have a minimum 2.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale, demonstrate commitment to community service or service involving the treatment of alcohol or substance abuse, and demonstrate leadership and participation in school and community activities.

• Award: Up to $1,000

Yokley-Gamblin Family Scholarship Fund helps support African-American students who are interested in continuing their educational pursuits. The Yokley and Gamblin families believe in the importance of education and providing opportunities to well-rounded students who are active in their schools, churches or communities.

• Award: Up to $1,000

Thyrsa Frazier Svager Scholarship Fund provides scholarship assistance to African-American females majoring in mathematics and attending Central State University, Wilberforce University, Wright State University, the University of Dayton, Howard University or Spelman College.

• Award: Up to $2,000

The Waverly Glover Scholarship Fund assists African-American students in pursuing a business or accounting degree at Central State or Wilberforce Universities. Students must be entering their junior or senior year in college.

• Award: Up to $750

Dr. Yvonne Walker-Taylor Scholarship Fund recognizes and honors all women of achievement in America who have provided vision, leadership and a personal commitment for the pursuit of freedom in her country. Individuals eligible for thisscholarship are full-time female students at Wilberforce University and who will have obtained at least sophomore status with a minimum 3.5 GPA.

• Award: Up to $1,000

For more information about scholarships through The Dayton Foundation, visit ScholarshipCONNNECT.

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