Our Members
Member Spotlight
The Black Student Fund (DC)
For more information about The Black Student Fund, please contact Jacqueline D. Wilson, Executive Director or visit: BSF.
For five decades, The Black Student Fund (BSF) has prepared thousands of young black scholars in the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Area, from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade, for life. The BSF opens doors to life-altering educational opportunities that would otherwise be unavailable to children from low to modest income households.
Through our Annual School Fair and Scholarship programs, we provide black scholars access to the region's finest independent schools. First held in 1972, The BSF's Annual School Fair is the oldest and largest of its kind for independent schools in the entire Metropolitan Area. It is also our largest annual community outreach event. This year's School Fair, held on September 14, 2008 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, was a huge success attracting close to 5,000 area residents and representatives from over 50 BSF member independent schools and East Coast boarding schools. It is through this signature School Fair, every year, that students and their families learn about the excellent opportunities available to them at independent schools, how to prepare to matriculate and gain access to such schools, and how to apply for financial aid. Each year, we are proud of the success of this fair in providing essential information to black families from low-income households in the Greater Metropolitan Area. Although the BSF targets its outreach to black families, the Fair is open to the general public and admission is free.
Through our Essential Support Services, we advocate for our scholars and their families by providing counseling, tutoring and additional financial assistance. It is this unique, holistic approach to supporting our students that allows them to successfully navigate and excel in academically rigorous independent schools. "The Black Student Fund was a great support system for my family. What I appreciated the most were the coupons provided by the Fund for local grocery and department stores during the holidays. Just when we thought our holiday was over, the coupons arrived in time to make our holiday even brighter." (BSF Alumna)
"The Black Student Fund's support extends far beyond financial support to provide guidance and a sense of community. I often received calls at my residence inquiring not only about my experiences as a black student attending a member school, but also about my general well being." (BSF Alumna)
Through the BSF Institute for Equity, Race and Education we assure an equitable learning environment within our 42-member independent schools by providing teachers and administrators cross-racial communications skills. Our multiracial group of BSF founders strongly believed in the societal benefits of children from different racial, cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds interacting with each other.
We equip scholars with opportunities such as college counseling, summer enrichment programs and internships that create the BSF advantage that leads to our students' future academic, career and economic pursuits. "The Black Student Fund staff interceded when certain faculty members suggested that I lower my college acceptance expectations. The BSF staff called colleges on my behalf and made the college application process much clearer. The BSF sponsored several college workshops and paid for my SAT math class. The BSF is passionate about helping students." (BSF Alumnus)
By providing access, advocacy and advantage, and encouraging equity and excellence in education, BSF Scholars realize outstanding achievements - 100% of BSF scholars have graduated high school and matriculated to competitive colleges and universities. "Before my relationship with The BSF my possibilities were very limited. The Fund provided the financial and emotional support, as well as the encouragement and tough love I needed to get where I am today. The BSF helped foster my intellectual development and independence. For that, I cannot be more thankful. The Black Student Fund has shaped much of who I am today." BSF Alumnus
"The Black Student Fund is an organization of heart that wishes to grow with the students it supports long after those students have graduated from member schools." (BSF Alumna)
To find out more about other NPEA member programs, visit: Previous Member Spotlights.
