From Chicago To Morehouse With A Gap Year Plan

From Chicago To Morehouse With A Gap Year Plan

A deposit deadline gets missed, plans fall apart, and the “perfect” timeline disappears. That moment could have ended Nasir Mohammed’s Morehouse dream, but it becomes the start of something better: a gap year built on accountability, discipline, and a clear decision to keep moving when the finish line shifts. We talk with Nasir, a Chicago-area student heading to Morehouse College, about why choosing an HBCU matters to him as a young Black person looking for connection, culture, and an education that tells the truth about Black history. He shares what it’s like navigating the college search largely on your own, why Morehouse felt like love at first sight, and how his nontraditional school experience shaped his mindset around empowerment and purpose. Nasir also reads his scholarship essay and breaks down the lesson behind it: setbacks can be preparation if you take responsibility and stay intentional. He explains how he used the delay to apply for scholarships, deepen community service, join leadership programs, and even train as a walk-on baseball athlete. We also get practical about college readiness, networking, and why alumni connections can make a new city and a new campus feel possible from day one. If you believe in HBCU scholarships, college access, and Black student success, this story will stick with you. Subscribe, share this with someone college-bound, and leave a review so more people find these scholars and support their journeys. Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2404105/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2404105/support]

Howard-Bound And Ready

Belonging can change everything, and Corynn Keck has been chasing that feeling since she was eight years old, when she was new to Charlotte and was swept into a sense of community by the Carolina Panthers' Super Bowl excitement. Now, she's headed to Howard University to pursue a career in sports management. She's not just dreaming about game day—she wants to be part of the team behind the scenes, helping make the thousands of decisions that create unforgettable fan experiences and determine who gets to feel included. In this conversation, we explore the moments that shaped her journey: years of volunteering at a youth basketball camp, intentionally reaching out to the child who felt left out, and realizing that inclusion doesn't happen by accident—it is designed with purpose. From there, Corynn connects sports business to real-world challenges, including ticket prices that can exclude families and environments that don't always feel welcoming to women and diverse communities. If you care about equity in sports, diversity in athletics, or what it takes to build a successful career in a traditionally male-dominated industry, her perspective is both insightful and inspiring. Corynn also shares why choosing an HBCU is a key part of her professional strategy. She discusses what stood out during her campus visits, why strong alumni networks matter, and how being surrounded by people who understand your experiences can become a powerful launchpad for success. We also have an honest conversation about the changing realities of college funding, how merit scholarships often don't cover the full cost of attendance, and the resilience it takes to pursue outside scholarships while staying focused on your goals. If this conversation resonates with you, be sure to subscribe, share this episode with an HBCU-bound student, and leave a review so more people can discover these stories of purpose, community, perseverance, and forward motion. Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2404105/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2404105/support]

From Football Setback To Civil Engineering Purpose At Morgan State

Missing a goal by 0.1 can mess with your confidence or it can change your life. We sit down with scholarship contestant Nicholas Boone from Bowie, Maryland, who’s headed to Morgan State University to major in civil engineering, and he brings a story that hits hard for students, parents, and educators alike. His essay starts with a simple truth: progress doesn’t move in a straight line, and the finish line doesn’t stay put.  Nicholas opens up about losing football eligibility after his grades slipped just enough to miss the cutoff by 0.1 GPA. Instead of letting that moment define him, he rebuilt his routine with tutors, teacher check-ins, and better study habits, then came back stronger on and off the field. We talk about why civil engineering fits his personality and goals, how city-building games and 3D printing helped spark his passion for building real things, and how STEM programs and leadership opportunities taught him to collaborate, teach, and step up.  We also zoom out to the bigger HBCU ecosystem: the South Texas HBCU summer send-off in San Antonio, community partnerships with the Urban League, and practical resources like the Common Black College Application that help students apply to multiple HBCUs affordably. Then Nicholas shares the mark he wants to leave behind a future scholarship for the “gray area” students with 2.5 to 2.7 GPAs who work hard but often get overlooked.  If you care about HBCU students, STEM education, academic resilience, and building stronger communities through infrastructure, press play. Subscribe, share this with a college-bound student, and leave us a review then tell us: what setback ended up becoming your turning point? Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2404105/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2404105/support]

A Scholarship Finalist’s Journey To Morgan State And Marine Science

A teenager goes from years of homelessness to working hands-on in STEM labs and aircraft hangars, and she can explain every step that got her there. We sit down with Donna Lee Dawes from Point and Beach, Florida, a standout in the Takisha A. Davis Scholarship Stipend contest, as she shares the story behind her decision to attend Morgan State University and major in coastal science and policy with a minor in computer science. Donna reads her scholarship essay in full, reflecting on her Jamaican upbringing, her parents’ immigration journey, and the instability of moving between shelters, couches, cars, motels, and temporary housing. She doesn’t soften the hard parts, but she also names the moments that built her: a mother who spoke affirmations, “little adventures” that sparked a love of the natural world, and a choice in high school to chase opportunities that once felt out of reach. We also dig into the practical path of building a real STEM career early: interning at Loggerhead Marine Life Center, leading at the Boeing Aerospace Science Academy as the first Black female choice program president and student director, earning awards, completing dual enrollment, and interning at Gulfstream Aerospace at 17. Finally, Donna explains how she plans to leave her mark at Morgan State by building community, creating programs for students with similar backgrounds, and mentoring the next generation of Black leaders in STEM, marine conservation, and environmental science. Subscribe for more student stories with real stakes, share this with someone who needs momentum, and leave a review to help more listeners find the show. Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2404105/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2404105/support]

Young Voices Rising

We welcome two powerful student voices for day two of the Takisha A. Davis Scholarship Stipend essay reading and hear how they turn family, faith, and discipline into real college plans. We also share ways to support HBCU-bound scholars through voting, donations, and the upcoming South Texas HBCU Summer Send-Off.  • day two format for the scholarship essay reading and why the competition feels tough  • South Texas HBCU Summer Send-Off details in San Antonio and what support students need  • Common Black College Application overview and why it helps students apply to multiple HBCUs  • Gregorio Armand’s essay on pushing forward through hard work, creativity, and relationships  • cybersecurity motivation rooted in protecting people after seeing a family hack  • choosing St. Philip’s College as an HBCU option close to home and financially practical  • Mariell Curb’s essay on breaking generational cycles through education and mechanical engineering  • Tuskegee preparation through internships and a summer bridge program for engineering students  • leaving a mark on campus through clubs, mentoring, leadership, and showing up  • why each contestant believes they deserve your vote  Please remember to vote, and if you have already voted or have tried to vote, the voting link is actually not active right now, but on Sunday or Monday, it will be back up. If you are interested in being a vendor or interested in supporting our scholars, use that link up to the top of the screen, or just send me a DM and I will gladly tell you how you can support.  Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2404105/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2404105/support]