JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — For nearly 80 years, the United Negro College Fund has helped more than 500,000 students of color earn their college degrees at historically Black colleges and universities.
Some of the students it’s helping are right here in Jacksonville at Edward Waters University.
Action News Jax’s Courtney Cole spoke to two students who said receiving scholarships from UNCF changed their lives.
“It’s a blessing to be at an HBCU,” Davon Davis said.
“It’s really been amazing with meeting new people,” Brianna Pendergrass said.
Davon Davis, president of his class, and Brianna Pendergrass, Miss Edward Waters University, are on two very different paths.
“I can see myself graduating from the Thurgood Marshall School of Law in Houston, Texas,” Davis told Cole he wants to work with the District Attorney in Houston before ultimately taking on that role himself.
“After I graduate from Edward Waters, I know I want to pursue a Ph.D. program,” Pendergrass also shared with Cole that she will be participating in a STEM internship research program with Cornell University this summer.
But both students told Cole that the same organization that made it possible was The United Negro College Fund.
“Having a presidential scholarship made it seem like someone wanted me to achieve something in life, someone wanted me to go further. They believed in me enough to give me this opportunity to show, to grow, and to develop into my full potential,” said Davis.
The United Negro College Fund helps 37 HBCUs, including Edward Waters University, by supporting them, keeping student tuition low and keeping academic programs strong.
Thanks to donations of more than $5B to date, UNCF has been able to award more than 10,000 scholarships every year.
Despite the challenges that have come their way, Pendergrass, a Biology scholar, said it’s important for her to succeed so she can continue to reach back and help others.
“I go back to my high school and be like, ‘I was literally right here where you were. And the problems that you’re facing now, they were a problem for me and I can overcome them. If you need help just ask me.”
Davis’ inspiration comes from another place.
“My mother was my biggest cheerleader, my biggest supporter. And if she was here today, I know for a fact that she would be so proud of me. She’s probably more proud of me than I am proud of me.”
Davis told Cole he lost his mother his junior year of high school right before the COVID-19 pandemic began.
He said his mother was his motivation. She was what pushed him — coming from a single-parent household.
“She’s the reason I keep going, because I know she’s proud of me and I know she’s here, so why stop?”
Next Friday, March 18, The United Negro College Fund, Edward Waters University and Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry will host the inaugural Jacksonville Mayor’s Masked Ball in support of UNCF and Edward Waters University.
Action News Jax’s Courtney Cole will be the emcee.
For more information about UNCF and how you can support it, click the links below:
- EWU: https://www.ewc.edu/
- UNCF: https://uncf.org/