GENERAL INFORMATION
The Boston Pearl Foundation, Inc.
The 2024 Scholarship Award is sponsored by The Boston Pearl Foundation, Incorporated, which is an initiative by the Psi Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.
The Boston Pearl Foundation was founded in 2005 by Psi Omega Chapter members to expand community outreach and to provide scholarships to help defray the cost of college attendance. The Foundation serves as a strong vehicle to expand the scope of scholarly assistance and community enrichment available in the Boston area. This organization has enjoyed an impeccable reputation of service to the Boston area for 15 years.
Psi Omega Chapter
For 96 years, Psi Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. has dedicated herself to serving the Greater Boston community. In 1932, Psi Omega Chapter presented its first scholarship award of $75. Since then, more than $200,000 has been awarded to deserving college students from the Greater Boston area.
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
In 1908, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority became America’s first Greek-letter organization established by and for Black women. The sorority was founded on the campus of Howard University in Washington, DC, where Ethel Hedgeman Lyle, had a vision for a sisterhood committed to enriching the social and intellectual lives of undergraduate college women.
Through the years, however, Alpha Kappa Alpha’s purpose has developed extensively and her reach has grown far more expansive. Our 2022-2026 great mission is called: Soaring to Greater Heights of Service and Sisterhood, we have six initiatives. Strengthen Our Sisterhood will serve as the administration’s “Foundation Initiative” as we strengthen our bonds to support our service mission. The remaining five initiatives will serve as the “Program Initiatives” which include: Empower Our Families, Build Our Economic Wealth, Enhance Our Environment, Advocate for Social Justice, and Uplift Our Local Community.
TERMS
The monetary amount of the 2024 Scholarship Award may range from $1,000 to $2,000. Awards are NOT renewable.
ELIGIBILITY
An applicant for the 2024 Scholarship Award must:
1) be a Massachusetts resident
2) identify as a student of African descent, including but not limited to students that identify as Black, African-American, Afro-Caribbean, Afro-Latino, or having any Afro-Diasporic roots
3) be in their senior year of high school
4) be applying to Fall 2024 admission into an accredited four-year college/university
5) have a cumulative grade point average (GPA) that is not lower than a “B” between Grade 9 through the most recent grading period/semester
All students who meet the requirements above can apply to the scholarship, regardless of gender.
APPLICATION DEADLINE
The application deadline is 11:59 P.M. EST on Thursday, March 21, 2024. Applications with incomplete or missing documentation will not be considered. No exceptions will be made.
REQUIRED SUPPORTING MATERIALS
High School Transcript
Applicants must submit a copy of their high school transcript, which should include the results of all grading periods completed at the time of application. The transcript must clearly display the official school seal. The transcript must be emailed by 11:59 P.M. EST on Thursday, March 21, 2024 to PsiOmega.Scholarship@Gmail.com.
Essay
Please select one of the following topics for a 400 word maximum, typed essay to be submitted with this application.
- Please discuss your leadership style. What 2-3 characteristics are most important for you as a leader to exemplify?
- What are your short term and long term goals? How do you plan to activate those goals and use them to benefit your community or the society-at-large?
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Recommendation Letters
Applicants must submit two (2) letters of recommendation.
One recommendation must be academic, coming from a teacher, who can speak to your work inside the classroom. The second recommendation must be non-academic, coming from a guidance counselor, advisor, coach, mentor, or a similar person who can speak to your character and service outside of the classroom.
Within the body of each recommendation letter, the email and phone number of the person writing the recommendation MUST BE INCLUDED. Recommendations must be e-mailed by 11:59 P.M. EST on Thursday, March 21, 2024 to PsiOmega.Scholarship@Gmail.com.
SELECTION PROCESS
Interview Process
Finalists will be invited to interview with the Scholarship Committee in April 2024. The interviews will be held on a Saturday in April, and a firm date will be shared with scholarship finalists.
Award Decisions
The Scholarship Committee will notify applicants of a decision in mid-May 2024. All award decisions will be provided via the e-mail on a student's application. Thus, please make sure you shift your e-mail settings to ensure our emails are not going to your Spam folder. PLEASE use a NON-SCHOOL email to complete your application, such as a gmail.
We will have an Awards Recognition Event to highlight our Scholars. This event is scheduled for June 2024. Finalists will receive concrete dates and further information if selected.
QUESTIONS
Please email any questions regarding the scholarship to PsiOmega.Scholarship@Gmail.com.