Fund-raising underway for YSU scholarship for young Black activists

A scholarship endowment to support young Black activists seeking a higher education degree to further their efforts in fighting for social justice is being established at the Youngstown State University Foundation.

The Penguin Social Justice Scholarship for Excellence and Leadership endowment was established by YSU, members of the Youngstown community and the YSU Foundation. The group hopes to raise $400,000 to provide a full-ride, yearly renewable academic scholarship covering tuition, room and board, books, supplies, and other fees. The scholarship can also be used for a summer session, study abroad programs and supplies needed for classes.

Donations to the endowment can be made here. Select "Other" in the drop-down menu and type "The Penguin Social Justice Scholarship for Excellence and Leadership" in the Gift Details and Comments box. Checks can also be sent to the YSU Foundation, The Penguin Social Justice Scholarship for Excellence and Leadership, 655 Wick Ave., Youngstown, Ohio, 44502. Donations may be tax-deductible.

All gifts to the endowment, as a designated minority scholarship, will be matched by the YSU Foundation. Since 1996, the Foundation has matched gifts to minority scholarship endowments. Since that time, more $1 million in gifts to minority scholarships has been matched by the Foundation. The YSU Foundation is the only Public University Foundation in Ohio that matches all gifts to minority scholarships.

Alicia Prieto Langarica, professor of Mathematics and Statistics, said the scholarship is a joint effort of YSU faculty and staff under the leadership of Carol Bennett, YSU assistant provost for Diversity and Inclusion.

She said the scholarship is for any Black YSU student actively engaged in community leadership roles and/or political and/or social activism. Examples may include active organizational roles in groups such as Sojourn to the Past, NAACP, the Urban League, League of Women Voters, YWCA, 4-H, Rotary and Kiwanis, she said.

For more information on the scholarship and endowment, contact Andrew Wingard at the YSU Foundation at 330-941-2007 or awingard@ysufoundation.org.