The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF) and United Health Foundation (UHF) recently awarded scholarships to 11 college students as part of CBCF’s Louis Stokes Health Scholars Program. The scholarship, which provides financial assistance for the 2013-2014 academic school year, is designed to increase representation of minority students entering the health care field.
“There is a tremendous need to diversify our health workforce in order to eliminate inequities in the quality and availability of health care for underserved populations,” said A. Shuanise Washington, president and chief executive officer of CBCF. “America’s health workforce has not kept pace with changing demographics; investments like the one United Health Foundation is making will go a long way to changing that.”
The scholarship award, which varies in amount from $4,000-$8,000 per academic year, is renewable as long as the student is eligible during his or her undergraduate studies. More than 400 students applied for the scholarship, which requires a 3.0 grade point average, a health-related major, an interest in developing leadership skills and demonstrated community service involvement.
The Health Scholars Program was named in honor of CBC founding member Rep. Louis Stokes of Ohio who also founded CBC’s Health Braintrust.
2013-2014 Louis Stokes Health Scholars:
- Andrea Burgess, University of South Florida
- Christian Figueroa, Central Community College
- Davontae Willis, Vanderbilt University
- Gentel Cook-Wright, University of Medicine & Dentistry, NJ
- Herman Powery, Florida A&M
- Jalane Jara George, Fox University
- Kane Banner, Duke University
- Ray Hill, Morehouse College
- Ryan Vining-Caldwell, Bradley University
- Valencia Johnson, Georgia State University
- Yajaira Peralta, University of Utah