Thirteen Atlanta Public Schools’ seniors will receive full-tuition scholarships to several historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) across the country, thanks to 5 Strong Scholars, a program that provides promising student leaders with ongoing mentorship and support from matriculation to graduation.
The seniors are part of a cohort of 44 scholars who will attend partnering HBCUs that include Alabama A & M, Alabama State University, Benedict College, Bethune-Cookman, Fisk, Fort Valley State, Langston, and Lincoln universities.
Here is the list of this year’s APS scholars:
| Student | 5 Strong Scholars HBCU | High School |
| Hannah Hutson | Alabama A & M | Benjamin E. Mays |
| Zackariya Beasley | Alabama State University | Maynard Jackson |
| Roderick Thomas Jr. | Alabama State University | Charles R. Drew Charter |
| Mason Gaskins | Alabama State University | Benjamin E. Mays |
| Jamiah Boozer | Benedict College | South Atlanta |
| Yazmine Paige | Benedict College | Coretta Scott King YWLA |
| Tykerria Fowler | Benedict College | Coretta Scott King YWLA |
| Jamarkus Stephens | Fort Valley State University | South Atlanta |
| Aniceah Leaks | Fort Valley State University | South Atlanta |
| Cameron Weaver | Fort Valley State University | Benjamin E. Mays |
| LaShell Full | Lincoln University | Carver Early College |
| Brooklyn McDaniel | Lincoln University | Maynard Jackson |
| Nahjah Phillips | Lincoln University | Frederick Douglass |
Founded by former APS counselor Andrew Ragland in 2015, 5 Strong Scholars aims to increase the retention and graduation rates at partnering HBCUs by assisting in the enrollment and success of academically promising student leaders until graduation.
These emerging leaders and scholars, who will enter in a cohort of five students and be known as 5 Strong Scholars, are supported over the course of their college career to ensure persistence and graduation in four years. Through academic, personal/social, and career development, students are given the tools to positively impact their college campuses and be better prepared to compete in a global society.
As part of its mission, 5 Strong also provides monthly cohort meetings and ongoing support from a team of experienced educators with over 30 years of combined experience helping minority students graduate from high school and get into college.
Four years after starting college, students celebrate as each cohort of five scholars graduates together.
APS Counseling Coordinator Maria Grovner said school counselors across the district have made a concerted effort to help students locate and apply for scholarships like the 5 Strong Scholars program.
“As school counseling coordinator, I’m ecstatic that our scholars will have the opportunity to experience college life at a variety of HBCUs,” Grovner said. “I am thankful that the 5 Strong Scholarship program will be providing the scholars with in-college support to help them persist from year to year. Their support definitely resonates with our goal of getting students to and through college.”
“We don’t want our scholars to experience any financial barriers if pursuing a college education is their goal,” Grovner added. “To help with this effort, we offered virtual scholarship seminars as well as live, virtual coaching sessions on general scholarship searches and essay writing.”
For more information, visit: https://www.5strongscholars.org/
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