Scholarships

Miss Black USA Announces New Scholarship Opportunity With Delaware State University

Miss Black USA Announces The Expansion of Scholarship Opportunities for Girls of Color
Delaware State University Offers Full Ride to Winner of Miss Black USA Talented Teen


(MARYLAND-JULY 12, 2022)- Announced today, the Miss Black USA Organization in partnership with Delaware State University is pleased to announce the establishment of a Full Tuition Scholarship for the Annual Winner of the Miss Black USA Talented Teen recipient.

 Karen Arrington is the Founder and CEO of Miss Black USA, a national scholarship pageant that celebrates the achievements of young women of color through the awarding of scholarships each year.

“We are so very grateful to our current Miss Black USA Talented Teen, Jacqueline Means, and her mother, JoAnn Means, for working with DSU leadership to create such an unprecedented academic opportunity for the future winners of the pageant.” Arrington says.

Miss Black USA Talented Teen is the little sister organization of Miss Black USA, Inc., and it is a multi- faceted pageant and movement dedicated to elevating the narratives of Black women, shining light on the nexus of achievements of women of color whose contributions often go unnoticed in mainstream media.

Created in 2008, the Miss Black USA Talented Teen national pageant program focuses on positive identity development, talent development and showcase, civic engagement and leadership for girls ages 14-19. Miss Black USA Talented Teen celebrates the talents and achievements of its state titleholders through its annual national pageant and through the awarding of scholarship and career opportunities.

Delaware State University’s Full Tuition Scholarship is a merit-based scholarship up to four years (Fall & Spring Semesters only) awarded by the Office of Admissions to entering full-time, first-year freshmen who are United States citizens. This scholarship covers the gap between tuition of the college minus any Federal Title IV and/ or state grant funding (i.e. Inspire Scholarship) Does not cover travel expenses, room and board, various student fees, or other costs.

Scholars must be regularly admitted and enroll in the fall semester immediately following high school graduation. In addition, scholars are required to enroll and successfully complete 15 hours of academic coursework fall and spring semesters and maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.30. 

“Delaware State University, Miss Black USA Talented Teen, and Miss Black USA, Inc. a partnership to advance talented young ladies is so ordered.” stated Dr. Tony Allen, President & Chief Executive Officer, Delaware State University.

The Miss Black USA Organization is the first and largest scholarship pageant for women of color, awarding over $500,000 in scholarships.  The pageant empowers women to own their power and celebrates their unique talents, traits, and beauty.  Miss Black USA defines her own standard of beauty and celebrates the whole woman, mind, body and spirit, all shades of brown, hair texture and size.  Miss Black USA is a non-profit corporation headquartered in the state of Maryland.

”The pageant allows for Black women to have a platform to showcase the power and beauty of being unapologetically Black,” stated Karen Arrington, CEO & Founder of Miss Black USA, Inc. “Our organization is highly respected and has redefined what it means to be a courageous, compassionate, and confident woman of color. 

To learn more about this year’s Talented Teen pageant, please visit: https://www.missblackusatalentedteen.org/ 

More about Miss Black USA

Founded in 1987, the Miss Black USA™ Pageant is an internationally recognized organization that is committed to empowering women to use their voices to make a difference in society. It is the first and oldest scholarship pageant for women of color, and has awarded over $500,000 in scholarships.  For the past two and a half decades the pageant has received positive broadcast and editorial coverage in leading international and US national media outlets including: USA Today, Good Morning America Now, NBC Nightly News, New York Times, Washington Post, MSNBC, Black Voice, The Roots, and BET Network. Miss Black USA™ is a highly respected organization redefining what it means to be a courageous, compassionate and confident woman of color.


Tennessee Teen Wins $5000 Kennetra Searcy Scholarship for Girls

Kennetra Searcy, Ms. Black USA and The Miss Black USA Organization is pleased to announce the selection of Carlisha Mckenzie of Chatanooga, Tennessee as the 1st Winner of the Kennetra Searcy Scholarship for Girls.  The $5,000 award is open to high school seniors throughout the U.S. Carlisha is a senior at the only all girls STEM school in Tennessee, Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy.  She has an intense passion for science and math.

Carlisha is the second oldest of three siblings.  She plans to major in Chemistry to become a forensic pathologist. She would like to become a forensic pathologist to make a difference by turning a tragedy into something positive, by saving lives and giving closure to families.

We wish to thank all of this year's applicants and wish them well as their pursue their academic pursuits.  Applications for 2018 will open on January 1st, 2018 at 7:00am EST.  

To date, the Miss Black USA Organization has awarded over $450,000 in scholarships and excited to partner with Kennetra Searcy to establish the Kennetra Searcy Scholarship for Girls.

How to Get $250 for College Savings with the Maryland 529 Save4College Program

Open a Maryland 529 College Investment Account and be Eligible to Receive a $250 Contribution through the Save4College State Contribution Program!

Saving for college is a challenge for many families. That's why the State of Maryland and Maryland 529 want to help Maryland families through the Save4College State Contribution Program.

The Save4College State Contribution Program is designed to help lower to middle-income families in Maryland save money for higher education. Individuals who open a new Maryland College Investment Plan (MCIP) after December 31, 2016, file an application prior June 1, 2017, and make at least the minimum contribution* to the account, may receive a $250 contribution by the State.

How Does It Work?

To be eligible, an applicant must meet the following requirements:

The beneficiary must be a Maryland resident.
Your Maryland taxable income cannot exceed $112,500 as an individual or $175,000 as a couple.
You must open a Maryland College Investment Plan and submit your application for the Save4College State Contribution Program and file an application prior to June 1, 2017.
 

Win $5,000 Kennetra Searcy Scholarship for Girls

In keeping with its mission to empower girls through education, the Miss Black USA Organization has established the Kennetra Searcy Scholarship for Girls.  The $5,000 scholarship is open to any high school senior in the U.S. who is a member of the Class of 2017.  The deadline to apply is now closed for 2017.  Application for 2018 will open on January 1, 2018.