Like many incoming freshmen, Aromyk Harris was concerned about how she would pay for her education and what would happen if her financial plans fell through.
“I was panicking and worried about how things would get paid for and the possibility I could be unenrolled at CSUB,” she said.
Then Harris learned she was one of 11 students this fall to receive an Ernest W. Williams Jr. Scholarship, which provides $1,000 scholarships to up to 11 students each year.
“I felt that relief from knowing that I had a backup plan,” she said. “The scholarship makes sure I’m not going to fall behind and I can focus more on my education. I’m very grateful for it and am excited to receive it.”
The other recipients of the scholarship this year are Matthew Inneh, Ayanna Gridiron, Kiara Morris, Remi Ruiz, Timothy Jordan, Stephen Smith, Honey Crowder, Jaretth Torres, Khristian Dove and Minaya Valentine.
While it is open to all students, the Williams scholarship fund has historically been focused on supporting African American students and encouraging them to pursue higher education. It was established in 1986 by a group of CSUB faculty and staff members to honor the service of a local doctor who was a pillar of the community.
The scholarship has awarded more than $500,000 to students since its formation.
“We know that a lot of our students need financial support, and we hope the money from this scholarship can help them,” said EJ Callahan, who leads the scholarship committee. “A lot of the recipients have talked about not being able to stay in school if they didn’t get this support, so it has a direct benefit to the students who receive them.”
One such student is Cheyenne Kendricks, who received the scholarship all four years while pursuing her bachelor’s degree and is set to graduate this fall with a master’s in kinesiology. She is grateful for the assistance the scholarship gave her.
“It had a great impact. It helped me be able to continue my education,” she said. “I think it’s great, not even just for Black students but also for first-generation and those who are sacrificing their finances and their personal lives to be able to extend their education.”
The scholarships follow a renewed commitment by the CSU Chancellor’s Office to advancing Black student success. Earlier this year, CSUB received $175,000 from the office — part of a CSU-wide three-year, $10 million allocation — to support some of the university’s initiatives focused on this population of students, including outreach efforts and the creation of a Black Student Success Center on campus.
Callahan hopes this effort will lead to greater awareness and support for resources such as the Ernest W. Williams Jr. Scholarship that benefit these students.
“We’re excited what this renewed focus on Black student success can do,” he said. “We hope this scholarship can really have some resurgence and help even more of these students.”
Students interested in the scholarship can apply through Scholarship Universe. Donations to support the fund can be made here by selecting the Dr. Ernest W. Williams Jr. Scholarship Fund.
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