December 14, 2011

 

The Ron Brown Scholar Program seeks to identify African-American high school seniors who will make significant contributions to society. Applicants must excel academically, exhibit exceptional leadership potential, participate in community service activities and demonstrate financial need. The applicant must be a US citizen or hold a permanent resident visa card. Current college students are not eligible to apply.

Each year, a minimum of ten students will be designated Ron Brown Scholars and will receive $10,000 annually for four years, for a total of $40,000. The 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. More than 250 students have been designated as Ron Brown Scholars since the inception of the Program.

Ron Brown Scholars are selected in the spring prior to entering college. Applications are screened during the month of February by Ron Brown Scholar Program staff. In March, finalists are invited to participate in a weekend selection process in Washington, D.C. at the expense of the CAP Charitable Foundation. Finalists are interviewed by members of the Ron Brown Selection Committee and are expected to participate in several Selection Weekend activities. Scholarship winners are selected on the basis of their applications, interviews and participation in Selection Weekend activities. Notification follows immediately.

Application Deadline

The Ron Brown Scholar Program currently has two deadlines for applications (students must be current high school seniors at the time of their application):

November 1st – application will be considered for the Ron Brown Scholar Program AND forwarded to a select and limited number of additional scholarship providers.

January 9th – final postmarked deadline in order to be considered for only the Ron Brown Scholar Program ONLY.

Application materials must be mailed in one packet. Transcripts and letters of recommendation should not be sent under separate cover. Incomplete, e-mailed or faxed applications will not be considered.

Below is the timeline for interested applicants to plan the submission of their application to the Ron Brown Scholar Program (RBSP) as well as key dates when eligible applicants will be notified:

  • August – January: Interested applicants can begin to complete and submit the RBSP scholarship application.
  • November 1: Early Applicant Deadline: Interested applicants who complete their applications by November 1st will be considered for the Ron Brown Scholar Program and will be eligible to have their contact information forwarded to a select number of additional colleges and scholarship providers.  Students who apply under this deadline must make the appropriate designation on their application.  Applicants are still responsible for submitting materials to any colleges, universities and scholarship programs for which they are interested.
  • January 9: Final postmarked deadline in order to be considered for the Ron Brown Scholar Program ONLY.
  • January – March:  Applications are reviewed by the Program staff.
  • Mid-February: Semi-finalists are notified.
  • Early March: Finalists are notified and invited to participate in a weekend selection process in Washington, D.C. at the expense of the Ron Brown Scholar Program. Finalists are interviewed by members of the RBSP National Selection Committee and are expected to participate in several activities during the weekend. Scholarship winners are selected on the basis of their application materials, interviews and participation in weekend activities.
  • April 1 – Winners in the competition are notified.

Due to the volume of applications received, the Ron Brown Scholar Program can only notify semi-finalists and finalists of their status in the competition.This notification will be made in February and March. Winners of the scholarship will be notified by April 1st and names will be posted on the Ron Brown Scholar Program web site in late April/early May.

Ron Brown Scholarships may be used to supplement benefits from the college or university a student plans to attend and from other foundations or organizations. Scholars may use the scholarship to cover the costs of tuition, fees, books, room and board, computers, health insurance, and other college-related expenses.

For further information, please contact us:

Ron Brown Scholar Program
1160 Pepsi Place, Suite 206
Charlottesville, VA 22901

Phone: 434 964 1588
Fax: 434 964 1589

E-mail: info@ronbrown.org
Web site: www.ronbrown.org