DIASPORA | US$80,000 in Scholarships awarded to Students of Jamaican Heritage At Howard University

WASHINGTON, DC September 19, 2023 –The Jamaican Howard University Affinity Network (JHUAN)  has announced the award of $80,000 in scholarships to 20 students of Jamaican heritage attending Howard University.

The Scholarship recipients include Aaliyah Anderson, Kathy Bedasse, Damario Berry, Nazarah Bridgewater , Gabrielle Clarke, Sarah Cole, Alrick Davis, Yashieka Fearon, Aliyah Hamilton, Paul Jones, Lori-Ann Knight, Huonna McCarthy, Danielle McIntosh, Ashley Medley, Shamona Morris, Jade Mullings, Tabitha Norton, Naila Scott, Lori-Lee Stennett and Amanda Wright .

The twenty scholarship awardees will be recognized at the organization’s annual fundraising event, HUes of Blue, on Saturday, September 16, 2023.  The event will be hosted by Jamaica's  Ambassador to the United States Audrey E. Marks who has been a leading advocate of the program since its inception.

The scholarship  organization JHUAN is the result of the  collaborative vision of Howard University's 17th President, Dr. Wayne A. I. Frederick, and Ambassador Marks, who both sought to enhance support for Jamaican students, and  appointed founding Chairman, Don Christian, to spearhead the Howard scholarship organization.

The primary intent of these scholarships is to bolster the trajectory of Jamaican students at Howard, granting them broader access and opportunities. As an alumnus who has benefited greatly from Howard University, it is important that we look for ways to support our academic institutions and pay it forward,” said, JHUAN President and Howard Board of Trustee Member, Don Christian.

“As JHUAN continues to grow its financial support and broaden its impact, I am honored as a Howard alumnus to support our Jamaican students who have navigated significant challenges to be able to pursue their studies at Howard.”

Jamaica’s Ambassador to the United States Audrey Marks  lauded the Jamaica Howard University Affinity Network (JHUAN) organization for providing in excess of US$250,000 in scholarship support to needy Jamaican students at Howard University over a five-year period.

The Jamaican Ambassador congratulated this year's twenty  recipients who were  awarded a total of  US$80,000 in scholarship funding for students attending Howard University.
“Having been involved in the conception of this fantastic initiative five years ago, I am truly proud of the remarkable strides made in such a short time.  

She was speaking on Saturday September 16,  at the HUES of BLUS 5th annual Scholarship fundraisers reception held  at the Ambassador’s residence in Chevy Chase Maryland.

Since the launch of the scholarship program in 2018,  a total of 64 scholarships have been awarded totaling $254,000 over  the five years. 

In 2023, scholarship applications increased by 50% while fundraising has grown at an average of 36% annually demonstrating the critical need for increased financial support.

The $4,000 scholarships were awarded to Jamaican-born students or those of Jamaican parentage with a GPA of 3.0 or higher and enrolled full-time at Howard University.

JHUAN’s goal is to raise significant funds at the upcoming HUes of Blue fundraising event to be able to impact more lives. “Through scholarships, students will be able to ease the financial burden and focus more on academics,” says JHUAN Scholarship and Mentorship Committee Chair, Joanita Ricketts. 

“In addition to scholarships, JHUAN offers mentorships, workshops and webinars covering areas such as financial literacy and career planning. 

We hope that early exposure will help students gain a better appreciation for life after college and empower them to be better positioned for career success,” Ricketts said.