This year, 34 freshmen students who previously participated in the Neighborhood Christian Center’s College and Career Program (CAPS) are enrolled in college. These students participated in CAPS’s College Scholarship Incentive Program.
The Foundation supports this effort through its Neighborhood Christian Center Scholarship Fund, which was established through the generous gifts of donors who had the passion to see that these students received financial support to assist in attaining this important step in their lives.
Over the past six academic years, the fund has supported 330 student enrollments and $483,420 in college scholarships.
NCC provides the College Scholarship Incentive Program in order to meet their organizational goal to provide opportunities for connecting under-resourced high school youth to college preparatory activities, college tours, peer mentoring, and more. These opportunities promote increased rates of high school graduation and college enrollment.
How It Works
This program is offered to students in grades 10-12. In order to qualify for tuition points, which are then translated into monetary support, every student must attend an array of empowerment and educational programs. These funds are truly vital in not only incentivizing young people to participate in NCC’s programs in order to build strong, hard-working, productive Christian leaders, but also to ensure that these students have every opportunity to attend college despite their financial circumstances.
The goal of NCC is to educate and empower young people in the underprivileged communities of Memphis to break the cycle of generational poverty that includes truancy, high school drop outs, drinking and drug use, teenage pregnancy, violence, and arrests. They do this by engaging high school-aged students in various programs and events that promote educational attainment; empowering them to develop and reach their educational and life goals; and affecting long-term change in the lives of the students.
As part of the CAPS program, NCC works with Arkansas State University Mid-South to provide the opportunity for high school students to gain college credit during the summer. Presently, there are 40 students that qualify for this program. In addition to the tuition, NCC supports them with their homework; helps them develop study skills; and mentors them throughout the process. Upon completion of the summer program, each student receives three hours of college credit. NCC provides transportation to and from the daily classes in West Memphis, AR.
The Personal Perspective
as told by Carlos Webster, College and Operations Coordinator for NCC
The Scholarship Fund is instrumental in assisting students who seek to further their education. It impacts the lives of students and their families beyond the amount of the scholarship. Not only does the scholarship help them financially but the aid also motivates them to get good grades, maintain good character, and stay focused on finishing school. A snapshot of the effect of the fund is highlighted by four recipients - Jasmine Brewer and Rosiland Miller, who both graduated from college in May of 2019, and Denzel Fields and Carrie Conner, who graduated from college in May 2014.
Jasmine Brewer
Jasmine and Rosiland both participated in our afterschool programs from sixth through twelfth grade. One of the motivating factors used as an incentive was the college scholarship. Although they are not related they both grew up in households led by their grandmothers in the under resourced areas of North Memphis.
Jasmine and her siblings had lived with their grandmother since she was six years old, due to her mother passing away. Jasmine graduated from Manassas High School in 2014. After graduation, she became the first person in her family to attend a four-year university. Jasmine attended the University of Memphis and is now living and working in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Rosalind Miller
Rosiland lived with her grandmother and assisted her with the homecare of her uncle who is mentally disabled. Rosiland graduated from Northside High School in 2014. After graduation she became the first person in her family to go to college. Rosiland attended Tennessee State University in Nashville and is now currently working in the healthcare industry.
Without the scholarship they may not have had the desire to attend college, the motivation to stay in school, or the resources needed to complete school. The scholarship fund allows students to set goals that are achievable as well as the resources to achieve them.
Denzel Fields
Denzel Fields participated in our after-school programs from sixth to twelfth grade. Upon graduation, he had a desire to attend Morehouse College in Atlanta. After being accepted he found the cost of tuition was greater than his available resources. His scholarship from the NCC assisted him in attending Morehouse for the next four years. Denzel didn't stop there. He went on to graduate school at PennState. After graduating from PennState, he moved to New York City to pursue his dream of being on Broadway. Without the NCC scholarship, Denzel may have never made it to Morehouse.
Carrie Conner
Carrie Conner participated in our after-school programs from ninth to twelfth grade. After graduation, she attended the University of Memphis. Carrie is very community focused and has volunteered at the NCC every possible opportunity. She received the NCC scholarship for four years. She graduated from the University of Memphis and received job offers from several Fortune 500 companies. She accepted a job with Kimberly-Clarke and moved to Atlanta. She always had a passion for acting and she landed a role in the blockbuster hit movie The Black Panther. Carrie continues to pursue her passion and now lives in Los Angeles. She continues to volunteer at NCC whenever she is in town and always says that she wants to give like the NCC gave to her.