Overview of 100 Black Men of Valdosta's Education Programs
1. SCHOLARSHIP COMPETITION
Part of our mandated purpose is to promote higher education. Our efforts toward promoting higher education includes mentoring, tutoring, and related activities. However, we realize that one of the greatest hurdles facing college bound black students is money. “The 100” has embarked upon a major campaign to endow the scholarship fund in an effort to provide scholarships to local youth in perpetuity. The Education Committee has developed specific guidelines for participation in the scholarship program. The guidelines require, inter alia, that an applicant score a minimum of nine hundred (900) on the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT). The applicant must also write a short paper on a topic selected by the Education Committee. Part of the proceeds from our fund raising activities are specifically earmarked for our scholarship fund. Our first scholarship from this fund was awarded in April of 1996. Since then, the 100 has awarded twenty-five (25) scholarships to students who have attended universities throughout the United States. The initial scholarship effort provided the first four scholarship recipients with renewable scholarships during their four years of college. The first four (4) scholarship recipients were eligible and received four thousand ($4,000) each.
2. VECA SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
In June of 2008, we embarked upon a mission to provide financial support to students currently enrolled in the Valdosta Early College Academy. To that end, the 100 pledged to provide the top fifty percent of the VECA inaugural graduating class with college scholarships. This effort will strengthen our commitment to support local students who will someday enter the college of their choice. The VECA Program offers a learning environment to elementary school students on the campus of Valdosta State University. Members of the 100 feel particularly strong about their affiliation with VECA given its mission to serve and educate underserved students. The organization also offers mentoring, tutorial and other aids/services to these students. In May 2015, the 100 proudly presented scholarships to the entire inaugural graduating class for VECA.
3. S.A.T. PREPARATION
Since 1996 in collaboration with the Princeton Review Foundation the 100 has conducted an S.A.T. review program. The programs objectives are:
a. To increase the scholastic aptitude test scores of all college bound students in the region. This will increase the students’ likelihood of receiving scholarship dollars.
b. To strengthen the test taking skills of local high school students.
c. To raise the general public awareness of the importance of SAT test scores in the college admissions process.
4. THE 100 BMV SCHOLARSHIP ENDOWMENT
The Endowment, created in 2007, has been fully funded. The goal and design of the 100 BMV Scholarship Endowment was to provide at least three annual scholarships in perpetuity. The Endowment also fulfilled a commitment to provide college scholarships to the top fifty percent (50%) of the inaugural graduating class of the Valdosta Early College Academy.
5. BLACK HISTORY/ARTIFACTS EXHIBIT
In February the 100 sponsors an Afternoon in Black History. This annual event serves to expense and educate local youth and the rest of the Valdosta community to the achievements of Black Americans. This event is supported by several local businesses and provided a boost to the 100’s Scholarship Fund. Items on display included original letters and artifacts of George Washington Carver, Booker T Washington, Rosa Parks and many others.
Additional Programs Offered by 100 Black Men of America -
The 100 Black Men's programs are based on a simple principle-through sustained mentoring programs young people realize their potential. Mentoring is the platform the 100 uses to deliver its programs throughout our Chapter network. The 100 has been recognized by Presidents of the United States, foundations, school systems, business and community leaders and grateful parents, guardians and family members for its leadership and for creating, implementing and promoting mentoring as a critical transformative vehicle in the lives of youth.
Mentoring
The 100 mentors youth through a worldwide network of chapters. Across the United States and Internationally, 100 Black Men of America, Inc. and 100 Black Men International are positively impacting the lives of tomorrow’s leaders through the 100’s signature programs such as Mentoring the 100 Way and Collegiate 100®. Chapters also deliver unique, innovative mentoring initiatives that are locally relevant and that change the lives of tens of thousands of youth annually.
Education & Scholarship
The 100 Black Men of America, Inc. works with corporate sponsors to deliver educational support services and unique learning opportunities that assist youth in achieving their educational goals. The 100’s education initiatives inspire confidence, create cultural awareness and foster academic leadership.
Collegiate 100
The Collegiate 100 is an auxiliary organization that extends the 100's mission on college and university campuses across America. Male and female students, who are in academic good standing and who have a passion to mentor and deliver community service, are eligible to become members of a Collegiate 100 chapter. Each chapter is a responsible, productive and cooperative segment of 100 Black Men, the college and surrounding communities.
Health & Wellness
The 100’s health and wellness goals are to raise awareness, provide access to health care and health information that will ultimately promote behavior change resulting in a healthier lifestyle. The organization’s Health & Wellness Committee provides leadership to the chapters as they establish health & wellness committees at the local level. Through civic and corporate partnerships, the 100 delivers health education programs and free health screenings in hundreds of communities annually. Current health & wellness signature programs include:
Economic Empowerment
The 100 considers economic empowerment as a necessary step toward creating a just society, not only here in the United States, but for black people around the world. The 100 defines economic empowerment as the ability to be self-determined in creating dreams, pursuing them and ultimately perpetuating them by establishing the mechanisms to sustain generational wealth. Our programmatic initiatives promote generational economic self-sufficiency through financial literacy, family wealth building and entrepreneurship. Current program initiatives include: