In fall of 2019, Shout Mouse Press awarded $500 direct aid scholarships to 14 authors as part of the Ballou Story Project “College Ready” program. The idea for this fund, made possible by the generosity of an anonymous donor, came from student authors themselves, who faced byzantine financial aid systems that didn’t suit the needs of first-generation, low-income college students. This spring, each student will receive another $500 scholarship. All awardees are Shout Mouse Press authors who contributed to The Ballou We Know and graduated as part of Ballou High School’s class of 2019. We recently heard back from the awardees; these are dispatches from their first semester!

First, we checked in with our awardees about how college was going. Did they participate in any exciting extracurricular activities or student groups? What were they proud of about their first semester?

College is going well. I joined the Black Student Union, Bisonettes (Dance team), and The Bison Nation Leadership team. I am most proud of my academic performance and growth. Initially, Biology was tough, but I got the hang of things now. Also, my public speaking class is my favorite class because I love the dynamic between the professor and his students. I also take Women and Gender Studies and I like this class as well. I am considering making it a minor. -Shae’Lynn, Bucknell University

College for me right now is way different than I expected it to be. Classes are very much easy but if you start to slack or miss classes you can fall behind really quickly. I haven’t yet joined any teams or a sorority but I do plan on doing that next year. This semester, I am most proud of how I learned to uplift and empower myself. -Andrenae, Cheyney University

I’ve joined a mentor program that works with middle schoolers in Baltimore. I’ve made connections with people who can help me progress in my major. And made cool friends in the process. -Gabriel, Morgan State University

College is expensive and, as many know, every bit of extra cash helps. We asked awardees how the scholarship was useful to them in the Fall 2019 semester. 

It has helped my purchase my books and school supplies. As well as giving me some piece of mind because I didn't have to constantly worry about whether or not I had the funds to support myself. -Amya, Bowie State University

This scholarship was helpful last semester because it allowed me to buy things to decorate my dorm room. Being in a new place can be hard, but decorating allowed me to make my dorm room feel more like home. I was also able to purchase required e-books for class. -- Tatiana, University of Miami

It was very useful. I bought the expensive books to use for my classes. I also used to it buy utensils. [The scholarship] was very important to me because if I didn’t have the scholarship I probably wouldn’t have had my books on time. - Tremayne, Winston-Salem State University

...and how they planned to spend their next scholarship. 

I plan on using this scholarship to help get more design materials for my interior design classes as well as other course materials that may be required. -Syamyia, George Washington University

I plan on using the scholarship to pay for books that I need for my classes. Also, for my traveling expenses when I take trips to go home. Since I have to apply for my dorm next year in January, I will pay the housing application fee with some of the money. -Darmeisha, Winston-Salem State University

We also asked our authors why direct aid scholarships like this one, which don’t have to go through their college or university, are helpful for students -- especially for students who are the first in their families to attend a post-secondary institution. 

College is very expensive and most students don’t have the materials they need in order to be great in college but this scholarship allows students to get the materials they need. -Shawma, Old Dominion University

These scholarships are helpful because you get the money right away to get the things you need, instead of having to wait for the money to go through the college. [When you have to wait] for your refund check to get the things you need like books, by then it would already been 1 or 2 months in school so it would be too late. -Darmeisha, Winston-Salem State University

Please join us in congratulating our Ballou authors on completing their semester!

Ahmaiya, Norfolk State University 
Amya, Bowie State University
Andrenae, Cheyney University 
Darmeisha, Winston Salem University
Davia, Trinity Washington University
Gabriel, Morgan State University
Mechelle, Morgan State University
Shae’Lynn, Bucknell University 
Shaheed, Lock Haven University 
Shawma, Old Dominion University 
Syamyia, George Washington University 
Tatiana, University of Miami 
Tremayne, Winston Salem University
Trevaughn, Winston Salem University