PhillySeeds, Inc., a Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA) subsidiary, awarded $160,000 in scholarships to 36 PHA residents seeking higher education.
“Empowering our residents with the education and training resources they need to succeed in life is a critical part of our mission and makes a real difference in their lives. These residents know, as I do, that education is the key—it’s the real game changer,” said PHA President & CEO Kelvin A. Jeremiah. “I want to commend our scholars on their academic achievement and wish them continued success in the new school year.”
“These scholarship awards highlight PHA’s commitment to residents, not just in regards to safe, decent, and affordable housing, but also PHA’s commitment to supporting residents achieving the ultimate goal of self-sufficiency through higher education,” said Lynette M. Brown-Sow, PHA Board of Commissioners Chair.
To qualify for the scholarship, students must be a current PHA resident and admitted to an accredited two or four-year college, university, or trade/technical school with a minimum GPA of 2.5.
A committee composed of PHA employees, student residents, and a resident leader reviewed the applications. They considered the applicants’ essays, community service, extracurricular activities, internships, recommendation letters, and academic transcripts in making their selections. Scholarships were awarded in the amounts of $1,000, $3,000, and $5,000 based on GPA.
The scholarship recipients represent PHA developments around the City, as well as the Housing Choice Voucher Program. Sixteen students are currently enrolled in post-secondary school, while the rest are recent high school graduates. In fact, 28 of the 36 scholarship recipients were awarded $5,000 scholarships because they had a GPA of 3.3 or higher.
Scholarships applications for next year will be made available in the spring.
PhillySeeds, Inc. is a charitable, non-profit corporation that seeks to promote the welfare of public and assisted housing residents through philanthropic activities, community-based partnerships, and special initiatives.
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