Senior biology major Wendena Parkes was recently selected among eight other students in the nation to receive the Educational Testing Service (ETS) Presidential Scholarship for Historically Black College/University (HBCU) students. The tuition only scholarship is for the 2017-2018 academic year and is open to students who attend public and private HBCUs.

It has only been four years and so much has happened, more than I could have ever imagined.  What began as an act of faith, with not much thought and a lot more fears, has steadily blossomed into something wonderful-a movement.  The PTC scholars as they are called, refer to it as “the PTC way.” They continue to set the bar high, support each other’s effort to touch it, and reach behind to ‘’pull up, not push down” at least one other aspiring, hopeful, and needy student that are like they were, having the aptitude but not the opportunity.

Almost four years ago while visiting Jamaica I came across a mother who shared that her son was the valedictorian at his high school graduation that year. I am enthused about young people and education, so I was really excited for both mother and son. Whereas mom expressed much pride in her son’s accomplishment she was daunted by the reality that her hope and dreams for him getting a college education was quite unrealistic, as she had no means of providing the needed funds for college or the possibility of getting a loan to send him. This was disheartening, for not only was the young man academically solid, he held a part-time job as a math teacher at a local school, worked at an internet café in his hometown, and provided tech support for his schoolmates. All while attending high school.