Congratulations to the Inaugural B.O.S.S.
Scholarship Recipients!
As part of our commitment to helping young Black women achieve educational excellence, The MGAM Scholarship Foundation helps ease the financial burden for deserving high school graduates across the country. For the 2021-2022 school year, the Foundation was pleased to award two students with a $1,000 scholarship each:
Laila Flores
Laila Flores is from Burtonsville, Maryland. She graduated from the Academy of the Holy Cross. While in high school, Laila made the Principal’s List her senior year and was an events coordinator for The Onyx Club and a community engagement student ambassador for the I Support The Girls Organization. She was also a member of the Investing/Finance Club, Young Progressives Club, and the Junior Varsity Softball team.
Laila, an aspiring physician, is attending Xavier University of Louisiana this fall to major in Biology/Pre-Med.
How does Laila celebrate the beauty, power, and resilience of Black women – “By having the faith, courage, and ambition to pursue and achieve anything I desire.”
Merom Arthur
Merom Arthur is from Gainesville, Virginia. She graduated from Battlefield High School. While in high school, Merom excelled academically, was a leader in Women in STEM, and a member of Key Club, Black Student Union, Volleyball team, and Track and Field team. Merom is attending Emory University and majoring in Neuroscience with a minor in Psychology, Film, and Media.
She plans to become a psychiatrist with a specialization in neurology to dismantle stereotypes about mental health.
How does Merom celebrate the beauty, power, and resilience of Black women – “Although a number of external forces should make me feel restricted, the resilience and potential within me are ready to be released to achieve.”
Eligibility Requirements
To be considered for a B.O.S.S. Scholarship, you must meet the following criteria:
- Cis or Transgender female
- At least one parent of African descent (e.g., African-American, African, Black Caribbean, Afro-Latina)
- Graduating High School Senior
- Have been accepted at a two- or four-year college/university, or accepted at a vocational/technical school and plan to attend school in the fall of your high-school graduation year
- Legal U.S. citizen or permanent resident
- Less than 20 years of age
- Have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher (based on a 4.0 scale)
Scholarship Timeline:
- February – Scholarship applications are available on February 1st.
- March – Application deadline is March 31st, 11:59 p.m. EST. Depending on the volume of applications, volunteer reviewers may evaluate applications and make final recommendations to the MGAM Board of Directors. The MGAM Board of Directors makes the final approval.
- April – Applications reviewed.
- May – Selected recipients will be notified via email of their awards and are required to complete award acceptance steps.
- May/June – President of MGAM mails scholarship checks to recipients.
How Winners Are Chosen:
In selecting B.O.S.S. scholarship recipients, The MGAM Scholarship Foundation will look for candidates who have the potential to excel as scholars, as leaders, and as contributors to the celebration of the beauty, power, and resilience of Black women. Applications will be reviewed and scored based upon the following criteria:
- Academic Performance (GPA)
- Resumes or CVs
- Essays
- Letters of recommendation
- Responsibilities and Financial Need