Waters, PA Legislative Black Caucus to award scholarships

HARRISBURG, May 24 – State Rep. Ronald G. Waters, D-Delaware/Phila., will join other members of the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus in its annual scholarship presentation program on Saturday, May 26 at 6:30 p.m. at the African American Museum in Philadelphia.

 Waters, who serves as PLBC chairman, said that the four honorees who will receive $1,250 scholarships are bringing to 22 the number of minority high school students benefiting from the program since its inception under his leadership in 2010.

 "All members of the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus take particular pride in hosting this event, which encourages and financially supports worthy minority students in their quest to obtain higher education," said Waters. "Along with our program sponsors, we are proud to recognize their high school achievements and offer them financial assistance to help take the next step in academia."

 Scholarship recipients must maintain a minimum 3.0 grade point average in high school, must be an ethnic minority student, and must plan to enroll in an accredited two- or four-year college or university in Pennsylvania, said Waters.

 Waters said one of this year’s scholarship winners – Alpha Kanu of Philadelphia – resides in his legislative district and plans to major in engineering at Temple University.

 "Alpha is among the best and brightest, having earned numerous awards and serving as vice president of his high school class," said Waters. "State Sen. Anthony Williams and I are honored to represent him Saturday night."

 Waters said that with the deep cuts to higher education funding made by the current Republican administration in Harrisburg, scholarship programs like the one promulgated by the PLBC take on added importance in helping students pay for college.