New Scholarships Established

New Scholarships Established

Urban League Will Nominate Students for $12,000 Awards

BY MICHAEL CINELLI
Rice News Staff
November 11, 1999

Rice University and the Houston Area Urban League have established a scholarship program to identify and give opportunities to outstanding students who otherwise might not pursue a quality private education.

The Houston program is the model for an Urban League Scholarship that will allow Rice and Urban League affiliates throughout the country to form a close relationship. The Urban League will nominate outstanding students for annual $3,000 scholarships to Rice that will be funded by the university. Rice will select the winners from students who earn admission.

When the program is in full flower, a total of 40 Urban League scholars, 10 each year, will be on campus at a time. Each of these students will receive $3,000 per year, for a total award of $12,000 per student. Any additional financial need a student has will be met by a combination of grants and self-help.

“The establishment of these scholarships could not be more timely,” Rice President Malcolm Gillis said. “It comes at a time when federal money to support needy students is not expanding rapidly enough.

“I relate very personally to this kind of help because it was through a combination of scholarships and part-time jobs that I financed my entire undergraduate education. To this day, I am grateful for that opportunity. By allying with Rice in this program, the Urban League is again showing the way in keeping opportunity open to all.”

Sylvia Brooks, president and CEO of the Houston Area Urban League, said, “The Houston Area Urban League is ready, committed and determined to create real, positive and enduring opportunities for the children of our community. This collaborative scholarship program represents an investment in their future.”

Ann Wright, Rice’s vice president for enrollment, said, “Rice and the Urban League have the same educational goal: to offer talented and deserving students the best educational opportunity available. This program combines the Urban League’s outreach and experience with Rice’s superior education. We look forward to receiving applications from this special group of award winners.”

Nomination forms–to be submitted to Rice by Dec. 1 of a students’ senior year–will be made available to Urban League affiliates annually. The application fee to Rice will be waived for all Urban League nominees.

Scholarship winners will be notified of their selection and financial awards along with their Rice admission decision in the spring of their senior year.

For more information about the Rice Urban League Scholarships contact the Houston Area Urban League at (713) 845-2501.

The Houston Area Urban League is a premier civil rights, nonprofit, community-based United Way agency, affiliated with the National Urban League. The league has a long and distinguished record as an agency thatoffers tangible, lasting benefits to all members of the community through services offered in the areas of workforce development and training, housing and education.