The HBCU Council of Shiloh Baptist Church is pleased to announce the HBCU Council Scholarship Awards 2025/2026 Application Cycle is NOW OPEN. Established in 2003, the HBCU Council offered two Scholarship Awards totaling $4000: The Rev. Dr. Wallace Charles Smith HBCU Award, based on academic excellence, and the HBCU Heritage Scholarship Award, based on academic performance and financial need. The HBCU Council has expanded its offerings to include additional scholarships and awards.
Students are encouraged to apply for our Scholarship Awards if they plan to attend or have been accepted to a Historically Black College or University (public or private) by January 19, 2025 (11:59PM).
AS A REMINDER, THE HBCU COUNCIL SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS ARE AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS WHO ATTEND HBCUS.
Eligibility: Eligibility is limited to applicants who meet all of the following criteria:
• Qualified applicants must be a resident of Washington DC, Maryland or Northern Virginia
• Qualified applicants must be a member of a church or community-based organization
• Qualified applicants must complete a Community Service Project (Minimum: 40hrs)
• Qualified applicants must obtain two Letters of Recommendation (Teacher/Counselor, Pastor/Church Official, Community Organization)
• Qualified applicants must obtain official high school/college transcripts
The Application and Attachments: Please provide detailed answers to the application questions and submit all required attachments. All information received from applicants will be maintained in confidence.
Required Application Materials: Applications are considered complete when the Scholarship Committee receives the following via email by January 19, 2025 (11:59pm). Qualified applicants may apply for more than one Scholarship Award. Each application must indicate which Scholarship Award you have applied for. Your application(s) will not be reviewed if there are any missing items. Please email your completed application(s) with all required information to scholarships@hbcucouncil.com.
PLEASE NOTE:
ALL APPLICATIONS AND MATERIALS MUST BE EMAILED TO THE HBCU COUNCIL.
DO NOT SEND ANY APPLICATIONS AND/OR MATERIALS TO OUR MAILING ADDRESS.
REV. DR. WALLACE CHARLES SMITH HBCU SCHOLARSHIP AWARD ($2,000.00)
CRITERIA: INCOMING FRESHMAN AT A HBCU, MINIMUM GPA OF 3.5, ONE-PAGE ESSAY
CAROLYN M. HARRIS HBCU SCHOLARSHIP AWARD ($1,000.00)
CRITERIA: INCOMING FRESHMAN AT A HBCU, MINIMUM GPA OF 2.5, MEMBER OF A MUSICAL
ENSEMBLE (SCHOOL CHORUS, CHURCH/YOUTH CHOIR INSTRUMENTAL ENSEMBLE, ETC),
DECLARED MAJOR IN MUSIC EDUCATION (VOCAL/INSTRUMENTAL) OR A MAJOR IN
EDUCATION, ONE LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION FROM YOUR CURRENT MUSIC TEACHER,
ENGLISH TEACHER OR MENTOR, ONE-PAGE ESSAY
J. OTIS HARRIS, JR. HBCU MUSIC SCHOLARSHIP AWARD ($2,000)
CRITERIA: INCOMING FRESHMAN OR UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT AT VIRGINIA STATE
UNIVERSITY, MINIMUM GPA OF 2.8, MEMBER OF A MUSICAL ENSEMBLE (SCHOOL CHORUS,
CHURCH/YOUTH CHOIR, INSTRUMENTAL ENSEMBLE, ETC), DECLARED MAJOR/MINOR OF
MUSIC OR BUSINESS WILL RECEIVE PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT, ONE LETTER OF
RECOMMENDATION, ONE-PAGE ESSAY: WHY HAVE YOU CHOSEN TO ATTEND VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY?
SANFORD BOOTH, SR. MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP AWARD ($1,000.00)
CRITERIA: INCOMING FRESHMAN AT A HBCU, MINIMUM GPA OF 2.5, DEMONSTRATE
A NEED FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, ONE-PAGE ESSAY
FRAN LEWIS-STEINER ENVIRONMENTAL HBCU SCHOLARSHIP AWARD ($2,500)
CRITERIA: INCOMING COLLEGE FRESHMAN OR UNDERGRADUATE COLLEGE STUDENT,
MINIMUM GPA OF 2.5, DECLARED ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE MAJOR OR MINOR,
DEMONSTRATE A NEED FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, ONE PAGE ESSAY:WHY HAVE YOU
CHOSEN TO STUDY ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AT AN HBCU?
EVELYN HIDER HBCU SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS ($2,000.00 AWARD)
CRITERIA: INCOMING FRESHMAN AT A HBCU, MINIMUM GPA OF 2.5, DEMONSTRATE A NEED FOR
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, ONE-PAGE ESSAY
EVELYN HIDER CONTINUING EDUCATION HBCU SCHOLARSHIP AWARD ($2,500.00)
CRITERIA: PRIOR RECIPIENT OF A HBCU COUNCIL SCHOLARSHIP AWARD, WILL BE A JUNIOR
OR SENIOR AT A HBCU, MINIMUM GPA OF 3.0, ONE PAGE ESSAY
DR. ISAI URASA BOOK AWARD ($500)
CRITERIA: INCOMING FRESHMAN OR STUDENT CURRENTLY ATTENDING A HBCU
AT THE UNDERGRADUATE OR GRADUATE SCHOOL LEVEL, ONE-PAGE ESSAY
DR. HODA ZAKI BOOK AWARD ($500)
CRITERIA: INCOMING FRESHMAN OR STUDENT CURRENTLY ATTENDING A HBCU
AT THE UNDERGRADUATE OR GRADUATE SCHOOL LEVEL, ONE-PAGE ESSAY