The Ron Brown Scholarship honors the legacy of Ronald H. Brown through a selective scholarship program that advances higher education for community-minded and intellectually gifted African Americans.
RBSP competitively awards Ron Brown Scholars four-year $40,000 scholarships ($10,000 each year) to the most talented and economically-challenged high school seniors who demonstrate a keen interest in public service, community engagement, business entrepreneurship and global citizenship – the four pillars of the late Ronald H.
Brown’s mission to uplift people of all races, cultures and ethnicities – especially our disadvantaged youth.
Recipients may use the renewable scholarships to attend an accredited four-year college or university of their choice within the United States. Ron Brown scholarships are not limited to any specific field or career objective and may be used to pursue any academic discipline.
Since the Program’s inception in 1996, more than 300 students have been designated as Ron Brown Scholars.
Requirements
- Residing in the United States
- Graduating high school senior
- Seeking a bachelor’s degree
- Plan to attend a 4year institution
- Attending a college or university in the U.S.
- U.S. citizen or permanent resident
- Black or African American
- Participate in community service or leadership
- Demonstrate financial need
- Proven academic achievement
In addition to the basic requirements for the the Ron Brown Scholarship, here are some other important aspects that will help you stand out.
- Academic Achievement – Students selected for the Ron Brown Scholar Program are able to demonstrate that they’ve taken full advantage of the challenging courses available to them in a wide variety of subjects.
- Leadership Ability – Leadership can look like working part-time, caring for family members, running a student organization, starting a business, or even advocating for community members.
- Community Service Activities – Students should highlight the ways they’re gotten involved in the world around them, and how they’re trying to make an impact.
- Demonstrated Financial Need – There is no specific income cutoff for the Ron Brown Scholar Program, so students should apply no matter what their financial circumstances
Scholarship Conditions
Ron Brown Scholarships for college may be used alongside any financial aid offered by the 4-year degree-granting institution of the student’s choosing. While Ron Brown Scholarships are not limited to any particular field or area of study, winners may not use these funds toward vocational or technical training.
For example, scholarship funds can be used toward the costs of tuition, fees, books, room and board, computers, health insurance, study abroad, and other college-related expenses. However, the Ron Brown scholarship cannot replace the aid awarded by an institution or be used to cover family contribution fees.
Ron Brown Scholarship Application Materials
First, applicants should download and fill out the application form provided on the website. Be sure to read each section carefully, as there are portions that must be completed by a parent/guardian, high school or college counselor, and of course, the applicant.
Now, let’s look at the additional materials you’ll need for your application:
- Transcripts: An official copy of your transcript is required to apply. You can request this from your high school guidance counselor.
- Letters of recommendation: You will need to submit two letters of recommendation with your Ron Brown Scholar Program application.
- Test Scores: Due to Covid and recent national trends toward test-optional admission policies, standardized test scores are no longer a requirement for the Ron Brown Scholarship.
- Two essay questions: The Ron Brown Scholarship application requires two 500-word essay submissions.
Conclusion
Similar to other merit-based scholarships, the Ron Brown Scholarship requires a strong academic performance. Thus, committee members will be looking for students who have taken advantage of and performed well in some of the most challenging courses available at their schools. Rank and GPA are among the many factors that will be evaluated.
Once you have each piece of the puzzle polished and ready to roll, it’s time to compile and submit your application. This can be done in one of two ways. You may send in your materials either by mail or email. Please note that there is no online application option available. Additionally, applications may not be faxed.
Your first option is to submit it by mail. In order to submit your application by mail, print all pages of the application from the website and send all materials in one package. Before mailing your package, ensure that each section of the application has been completed by the appropriate person. Official transcripts sealed in a separate envelope by your school staff are acceptable to include in the package with all other materials.
Your second option is to submit by email. Email submissions should be sent in one message. Application materials must be emailed to [email protected]. If possible, the email should come from your high school/college counselors so that they can provide the transcript and letters on your behalf at that time.
And before you drop that envelope in the mailbox or hit “send”, review everything one last time! Incomplete applications will be removed from consideration for the Ron Brown Scholarship.
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