Senior Prentiss Smiley from Homer is the recipient of the National Association of Historically Black Colleges and Universities Title III Administrators, Inc., Scholarship. The scholarship program is open to students attending 98 HBCU; 15 students from Grambling applied, but Smiley was the one who brought home the big prize, a $1,000 scholarship.
GLENN LEWIS/The Yearbook
Prentiss Smiley (center) receives a $1,000 scholarship check from President Willie Larkin and Beverly Hill-Hercules, executive director of Title III at Grambling State.
“It is an honor to receive the National Association of Historically Black Colleges and Universities Title III Administrators, Inc. Scholarship,” Smiley said. “I am extremely thankful to Mrs. Beverly Hill-Hercules, for encouraging students from Grambling State University to compete against numerous students from other HBCUs across the country.”
The application required students to have at least a 2.5 GPA, write a 500-word essay, and show evidence of their community involvement and extracurricular activities.
Hill-Hercules, executive director of Grambling State’s Title III Program, said Smiley’s essay was very thorough and well written.
“He really explained his situation, talked about his responsibilities in being a leader in organizations he has been a part of at Grambling,” Hill-Hercules said.
She said the judges were impressed with his use of proper grammar and his plan of how he will give back to the university.
The scholarship application process was competitive and began in June, Smiley said.
“Students from a number of HBCUs wrote essays that highlighted their leadership activities, community service activities, and educational goals. The committee took into consideration the student’s grade point average and other requirements,” Smiley said.
“The committee also asked that the applicants explain why he or she selected their current HBCU (in my case – Grambling State University) as their university of choice.”
Smiley said he would use the scholarship to pay toward tuition and books.
“But it will also serve as a source of motivation to continue to earn good grades and give back to the community through service-learning.”