Deadline for Ron Brown Scholar Program is Jan. 9

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Black students are encouraged to apply to the Ron Brown Scholar Program, which provides scholarship awards to high-school seniors excelling in their academics, exhibiting exceptional leadership potential and actively serving in community service activities, according to scholarshipsonline.org website.

Brown was the first black person to serve as U.S. Secretary of Commerce during the first term of President Bill Clinton.

He died in a 1996 plane crash with 34 others in Croatia. He was 55.

Applicants must be U.S. citizens or must have a permanent resident visa card. They must also be able to demonstrate financial need. The scholarship awards are not available to current college students.

From thousands of applications, a few finalists will be chosen and invited to participate in a weekend selection process in Washington, D.C., in March at the expense of the CAP Charitable Foundation.

They will be interviewed by members of the Ron Brown Selection Committee and will be expected to participate in several selection weekend activities.

Scholarship winners are selected on the basis of their applications, interviews and participation in selection weekend activities.

Recipients can use the funds to pay for tuition, fees, books, room and board, computers, health insurance, and other college-related expenses at an accredited four-year college or university of their choice within the U.S. Any field of study can be chosen.

The scholarship application deadline is Jan. 9, and the award amount is usually $10,000. Winners will be notified April 1.

For details, visit www.ronbrown.org.