Applications for the Bucks County Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) have been extended. The deadline for its annual scholarship program is now May 17, and the organization is accepting applications.
Adrienne King, chair of the organization’s scholarship committee, said the local chapter of the organization awards financial subsidies to Bucks County college-bound senior high school students of color who desire to contribute to the advancement of racial and social justice for all.
King said many in the upper portions of Bucks County had been largely unaware that the organization had a local county chapter primarily due to its Bensalem location.
“I would say it’s been post-2020 since myself and a few others from Central and Upper Bucks have joined the chapter. We have sort of started to see it stretch a little bit further across the county,” King said, and that’s a good thing.
The scholarship program is one of many programs the non-partisan, not-for-profit group offers to all Bucks County residents of color. Additionally, the organization has a separate political action committee (PAC).
When asked about any scholarship success stories, King told the Beacon about Lea Hollice, a Bensalem High School student who was awarded one of the scholarships last year.
“She does a lot of volunteerism with our political action committee,” King said and added that Hollice had volunteered to host a table for the NAACP at the Bucks County Culture Fest and was also working to register people to vote.
Hollice, who is majoring in political science, attends Bucks County Community College, had coordinated civic-minded events while still attending Bensalem High School.
While a high school junior, Hollice said she realized that her school did not celebrate Black History month and worked to change that by forming an after-school club.
“We got the school involved in a door decorating contest, we had spirit days and to end it off we had an assembly with speeches, songs, dance, performances,” she said. “It was such a hit that it’s now become a tradition and though I’ve graduated from Bensalem, this tradition still goes on, and it happened [again] this year.”
Hollice said that initiating a celebration of Black History Month at Bensalem High School was not an easy feat. “So many hoops and obstacles we had to go over to just get a spirit day done, and when we announced our spirit days, the advisor was receiving death threats from parents.”
The uphill battle seems to have reinforced Hollice’s intention of pursuing a career in political science and possibly working to advance public education in lower income neighborhoods.
READ: Local Journalism and Robust Political Reporting Is the Last Line of Defense Protecting Our Democracy
When asked what advice she might impart to high school seniors about the NAACP scholarship program, Hollice replied “I would say definitely apply 100%.”
“Even if you’re not really into politics and stuff, I think it’s still such a good opportunity to even be invited into an atmosphere like that because it kind of helps you. You never know who you might meet and what direction it may take you in life because they’re such a welcoming organization and everybody does something so different that I believe you’ll find where you fit in.”
Applications for the NAACP scholarship, available to senior high school students of color who are planning to attend college, will be accepted through May 17.
