Founded in 1987 by syndicated columnist, Carl T. Rowan, Project Excellence is a college scholarship program for black high school seniors who display outstanding writing and speaking skills. Mr. Rowan founded Project Excellence to combat negative peer pressure felt by black students who excel academically. The program rewards students who rise above stereotypes and negative peer influence and dare to succeed. A committee of journalists, community leaders, and school officials, chaired by Mr. Rowan, oversees the program. Mr. Rowan hopes to make youngsters realize that approval of the know-nothings is worth next to nothing, where hard work and good grades can be worth an awful lot. Participants are African-American students in their senior year of high school from public, private, and parochial schools in the metropolitan Washington area, including the Virginia and Maryland suburbs. Since the founding of Project Excellence, 2,940 offers have been awarded for a total of over $76 million dollars in scholarships: $66.6 million and 2,308 offers to students at Scholarship Day (since 1994).
$23 million in Project Excellence Scholarship Awards to 1,034 students (since 1987). Last year, Project Excellence provided $3 million in scholarships to 111 high school seniors. An additional 555 students received $18 million in grants at Scholarship Day.
Eligibility Requirements Every African-American student who competes for a Project Excellence scholarship must be nominated by their school and meet the following eligibility requirements. Demonstrate outstanding oral and written command of the English language and possess a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.5 to compete in the "Outstanding" category.
Demonstrate progress and potential in the oral and written command of the English language and possess a cumulative grade point average of 2.00 to compete in the Greatest Progress category.
Plan to graduate from a public, private, or parochial school in the Washington metropolitan area.
Be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States.
Plan to attend an accredited college or university.
Nominating Procedures Students may not apply directly to compete in the program. Every public, private, and parochial high school in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area is eligible to nominate four students: three for outstanding achievement in academics and one for greatest progress. Teachers or guidance counselors with personal knowledge of the student's abilities submit all nominations to Project Excellence, subject to the approval of school principals. Nomination guidelines and forms are available in school guidance offices in early December.
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