RONALD H.BROWN AMERICAN JOURNEY AWARDS SCHOLARSHIP STUDENT SPOTLIGHT 2024
HONORING EXCELLENCE IN LEADERSHIP
Established in 1996 to honor the late Secretary of Commerce Ronald H. Brown’s legacy of service, the Ron Brown Scholar Program (RBSP) aims to advance higher education and improve the lives of service-minded and intellectually gifted African Americans, and to accelerate their progress into impactful leadership roles and opportunities. This is done through Program initiatives focused on college access and persistence, leadership training and workforce development. The Program supports more than 2,000 students annually through it’s three initiatives: The Signature Scholarship, The Guided Pathway Support Program (GPS) and the Ron Brown – Ruth and Norman Rales Leaders Network.
The Program awards $40,000 to 50 academically motivated African American students from low income backgrounds through its scholarship program. To date
634 students have been named Ron Brown Scholars. Our Scholars have faced homelessness, food insecurity and a lack of family support. RBSP steps in to provide social and emotional support, as well as an economic safety net. Knowing that the Program and its Alumni offer Scholars a second family, this gives Scholars the confidence to stretch themselves and to take risks. Keeping Scholars connected through our Alumni chapters and mentorship programs which are provided by our older Scholars, helps to fulfill our goal of keeping Scholars connected and doing “good” over a lifetime.
Since inception, RBSP has awarded more than $25 million in scholarships and personal support to Ron Brown Scholars. Over the past five years, the average household income for these students is $41,000. Ron Brown Scholars boast a 99% graduation rate, with more than 50% pur-
suing graduate or professional degrees. Collectively more than 65% have given back $1.2 million to the Program Ron Brown Scholars have gone on to excel in many professional fields evidenced by these successes: Mr. Terence Carter, who oversees TV production and development for Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith and creator of the hit show EMPIRE; Mrs. Katori Hall, the Olivier Award-winning and twotime Tony-nominated Memphis-native and writer of TINA - The Tina Turner Musical; Mr. Damian Williams, appointed United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York; Dr. Carmelle Norice, Clinical Director of Infectious Diseases at Merck Research Laboratories; Congressman Mondaire Jones, represented New York’s 17th District; Ms. Amanda Alexander, founding Executive Director of the Detroit Justice Center; Dr. Ryan Stewart, former Secretary of Education for the State of New Mexico.
The Ron Brown Scholar Program is committed to improving the lives of intellectually gifted, community and public service-minded African Americans by accelerating their progress into impactful leadership roles and opportunities.
The vision of the Ron Brown Scholar Program is to cultivate the next generation of leaders who positively impact their communities and blaze new paths in their chosen careers and professions.
Zainab Adeoye SICKLERVILLE, NJ
Winslow Township High School
• Health Sciences & Humanities
Olutobi Adeyeri HOUSTON, TX
Carnegie Vanguard High School
• Computer Science & Entrepreneurship
Erica Adu SUCCASUNNA, NJ
Morristown Beard School
•
Biochemistry
Nathania Antwi WORCESTER, MA
Burncoat High School
•
International Relations
Bolton Bazile MIRAMAR, FL
College Academy at Broward College
• Global and Public Health
Riziki Chabeda MOORESVILLE, NC
North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics
• Art History & Biology
Tinarie Dacres HOMESTEAD, FL
Center For International Education
• Computer Science & Government
Marlone Davermann MIAMI, FL School for Advanced Studies Homestead
• Civil Engineering
Gabrielle Demuren CLARKSVILLE, MD
River Hill High School
• Government & Political Science
David Dickson CHICAGO, IL
Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy
• Biomedical Computation
Nadia Duah COLUMBUS, GA
Columbus High School
• Statistics & Data Science
Aisha Duldul CORDOVA, TN Pleasant View School
• Biochemistry & Computer Science
Wesley Ekes BOSTON, MA
Boston Collegiate Charter School
• Biomedical Engineering
Chidalu EmyMunonye FREDERICK, MD
Urbana High School
• Biological Engineering & Political Science
Isabella Green CLEVELAND, OH
Hawken School
• Biochemistry (PreMed)
Jaelyn Hardaway SAN ANTONIO, TX
Antonian College
• Business
Julian Hollis SUMMERFIELD, FL
Belleview High School
• Engineering
Niles Holt ATLANTA, GA
Charles R. Drew Charter School Senior Academy
• Music (Jazz Studies)
Quinton Hood GREER, SC
Riverside High School
• Mechanical Engineering & Business Management
Omo Imode BELCAMP, MD
Havre de grace High School
• Computer Science & Linguistics
Jayden Johnstone NEW YORK, NY
Hunter College High School
•
Biomedical Engineering & Economics
Amirahimaan
Kalonji WASHINGTON, D.C.
Benjamin Banneker Academic High School
•
Biology & Philosophy (PreMed)
Besufekad Liyew SILVER SPRING, MD
Wheaton High School
• Molecular and Cellular Biology & Bioengineering
Ashton Lollis WOODVILLE, MS
Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science
• Computer Engineering & Mathematics
Anotida Mafuvadze LEES SUMMIT, MO
Blue Springs South High School
• Political Science & Africana Studies
Johnathan McGee INGLEWOOD, CA
Los Angeles Center for Enriched Studies
• Neuroscience & Global/Ethnic Studies
Joshua McLeod NORFOLK, VA
Norview High School
• Electrical Engineering
August Mobley COLUMBUS, GA
Columbus High School
•
Public Policy
Yoel Nrayo CARMICHAEL, CA
Rio Americano High School
• Biochemistry & Bioengineering
Chigozirim Ogbonna BROOKLYN, NY
Queens High School for Sciences at York College
• Computer Science
Amy Okonkwo GASTONIA, NC
North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics
• Biology (General or Molecular)
Praise Oladiti LILBURN, GA Brookwood High School
• Neuroscience
Ikpomwonsa Osaghae MIAMI, FL
Coral Reef Senior High School
• Neuroscience
Oyewumi Oyeniyi PHILADELPHIA, PA
Cristo Rey Philadelpha High School
• Sociology & Public Health (PreMed)
Briana Roberts BRANDYWINE, MD
Wheaton High School
• Civil Engineering & Spanish
Kelsey Robinson ROSEDALE, NY
St. John’s Prep High School
• Neuroscience
Samarah Saggers FLAT ROCK, MI
Woodhaven High School
• Cognitive Science & Spanish
Kalkidan Samuel PALMDALE, CA
Knight High School
• Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering
Brownetta Samukai LAWRENCEVILLE, GA
Collins Hill High School
•
Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology
Clotilde Tchano Tchandja SAN ANTONIO, TX
TMI Episcopal School
• Psychology
Deonte Theard BRONX, NY
Manhattan Center For Science And Mathematics
• Public Health or Biomedical Engineering
Noah Turura GRAYSON, GA
Grayson High School
• Computer Science or Applied Physics
Gaelle Valmir MIAMI, FL
School for Advanced Studies Wolfson
• Computer Science
Amya Wallace LAUDERHILL, FL
Plantation High School
• Neuroscience & Biological Sciences (PreMed)
Saraphina Wambi OVERLAND PARK, KS
Blue Valley Northwest High School
• Biochemistry (PreMed)
Bryan Williams VICTORVILLE, CA
University Preparatory School
• Electrical Engineering or Computer/Data Science
Adele Wilson CLAREMORE, OK
Claremore High School
• Materials Science & Engineering
