MANASOTA ASALH SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMs

Fourteen talented students were awarded scholarships at the Manasota ASALH, Inc. (The Association for the Study of African American Life and History) scholarship program on May 21, 2022. These deserving scholars were honored in a ceremony held at the Betty J Johnson Library. Some of the recipients were in attendance with their families and others participated in the awards ceremony on Zoom. Scholars graduating from Sarasota and Manatee High Schools will be furthering their education at several prestigious schools such as Yale, Harvard, Duke, The Ringling School of Art & Design as well as Universities throughout the state of Florida. Since the inception of the program, over $500,000 has been granted to more than 275 students. The Scholarship Committee, composed of 8 members from professional backgrounds led by Harriet Cowan committee chair, prompted the students to introduce themselves and speak about their college plans and future goals. Detective Dominic Harris was the guest speaker. He praised the students and impressed upon them the need to be responsible citizens as they pursue their goals.

With the support of the President of the Manasota Branch, David G. Wilkins, Esq., and the entire Executive Board , a campaign drive "Closing the Gap" provided the funding for students to receive this year's awards.  Generous multi-year contributions have also been received from the estate of Patricia Lynch-Pepin, and her brother Danny Lynch, in memory of his sister, a dedicated and tireless volunteer with the Friends of the North Sarasota Public Library. Also, in 2017 new ASALH members Morrie and Quincy Tharps and family  made a generous pledge of $10,000 to the ASALH Scholarship Fund in honor of his late brother, Vernon Tharps. Since the 2000  school year, Manasota ASALH has awarded over $500,000 in college scholarships to 283  Sarasota and Manatee Counties students.    The KBR Foundation was founded by the late Margaret Dole Rust in 1992. The Foundation was principally established to provide funds to assist disadvantaged children, to support health and medical facilities and to continue to provide assistance to the various types of charitable beneficiaries that Mrs. Rust generously supported during her lifetime. Since 2019, this Foundation has generously donated $27,500 to the ASALH Scholarship Fund. We are forever grateful to the KBR Foundation for their donations.