Throughout the year, Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority (NRHA) works with various community and education partners to identify financial aid opportunities for high school residents within the family communities.
Earlier this year, now former Maury High School Student Lariq Teasley was awarded a $20,000 E.L. Hamm/NRHA Scholarship to attend Old Dominion University, while Jamiyah Davis, now an alumna of Booker T. Washington High School, received a $2,000 Virginia Association of Housing and Community Development Officials Scholarship (VAHCDO) to attend Hampton University.
“Scholarships are important for a lot of different folks across the country — not just in our communities. Going to college could be a barrier, cost is a barrier and access to resources is a barrier,” NRHA Executive Director Nathan Simms said. “I think that that’s even bigger in terms of the amount of additional resources, support and institutional knowledge available.”
Most recently, Community Outreach Coalition (COC) held a virtual information session, Oct. 7, for students interested in attending James Madison University (JMU). The full ride Teaching Fellows scholarship opportunity is backed by the university’s Ole School Alumni Scholarship Group (OSASG). The fund was established in 2005, and the group has awarded more than 30 scholarships during that time. At the behest of the organization, the information was shared on NRHA social media platforms to target underrepresented and inner-city students.
NRHA has also partnered with Tidewater Community College (TCC) to help promote its dual enrollment program to youth residents. The program’s push is for high school students to earn college credits while enrolled in their senior year. Ideally, the earned college credits can be transferred to a four-year institution or applied towards an associate degree.
Partnerships like this are sometimes the missing link, Simms said, adding, “That’s where NRHA comes in.”
Sherilynn Castel, is an academic advisor with COC. Because college can be such an overwhelming expense, OSASG also helps interested students learn about additional funding to supplement financial gaps, like the Pell Grant. OSASG focuses its efforts in a handful of cities around Virginia, including Norfolk.
“In addition to students being a part of the scholarship program, once they have matriculated into the college, they’ll also be able to be part of a cohort,” Castel said. “The cohort that OSASG created provides things like mentorship and international educational experiences like trips to Africa, so the students continue to get support.”
COC provides students support throughout the application process from talking to counselors to helping gather school transcripts and reference letters. Additionally, they offer information about other scholarship opportunities, including a $500 TRIO Talent Search Scholarship, Smart Owl, CampusReel and CollegExpress monies which are awarded monthly. They also assist adults in getting training and certifications through their Workforce Development and Educational Opportunity Centers.
When partnering with organizations having a family component is also key, said Julius Norman, NRHA vice president of Client Services.
“We make every effort to make sure that we put assurances in place to help our residents succeed. Not only students, but the entire family,” he said.
Castel said students interested in the OSASG Teaching Fellows scholarship will need to obtain an education degree in one of the following endorsement areas – Elementary Education, Inclusive Early Childhood or Special Education. Award recipients must also commit to teaching in their home district for two years after graduation.
She added that some students will have the chance to tour the campus, sit in on information sessions centered on the designated education tracks and connect with OSASG representatives in November. Castel noted the deadline to apply for the campus tour is Thursday, Oct. 16 at 5 p.m. To apply for the JMU Teaching Fellows Campus Visit, fill out both the Trio Registration form and Teaching Fellows Campus Visit form.
“(The program) just want to build a great connection with the students who are interested in the scholarship,” Castel said.
For more information about this story, contact dcuenca@nrha.us.
For more information about the VAHCDO Scholarship application process or to donate to the scholarship fund, click here.
For more information about the E.L. Hamm/NRHA Scholarship, contact jnorman@nrha.us.
For more information about COC, go to http://www.cocoutreach.org or follow their social media pages.
For more information about OSASG, click here.
For more information about the OSASG JMU scholarship, email s.castel@cocoutreach.org.
To apply for the JMU Teaching Fellows Campus Visit, fill out both the Trio Registration form and Teaching Fellows Campus Visit form.
