AIM MISSION DEMONSTRATED THROUGH SCHOLARSHIPS
More Than $370,000 in Scholarships Awarded to 20 Students During 2009 Convention
The variety of activities that make-up the International Auxiliaries In Ministry Convention (AIM), the annual summer convention of the multi-million member Church Of God In Christ, Inc. are all centered around education, training and ministry. This summer was a banner year for scholarships for COGIC youth from across the country who are just beginning their college careers. These talented youth were rewarded for their academic, creative and moral excellence.
Chairman J. Drew Sheard’s visionary leadership places great emphasis on a holistic approach to educating future generations. He demonstrated this ideal five years ago when he implemented the Creative and Performing Arts Scholarship. The Creative and Performing Arts Scholarship seeks to provide scholarships and access to the creative arts for students who are involved with and pursuing creative arts through their lives and collegiate careers. Past winners have been pianists, dancers, photographers and singers. This year three students were awarded $5,000 and internships. The first place winner, Brenna Humphries, was offered the opportunity to photograph the new season of ‘Sunday Best”.
New this year was an AIM Academic Scholarship, based solely on academic excellence and a student’s plans to pursue a higher education. Six students received scholarships and book awards totaling $5,000. These students represent the highest academic attainment and are pursuing degrees in engineering, pre-med, chemistry and business.
While in Tampa, Fla., Florida A&M University President, James H. Ammons, announced a multi-year agreement to award up to $500,000 per year in scholarships to students who were academically prepared and wanted to attend FAMU. In this inaugural year, 11 students were offered more than $360,000 in academic scholarships to the historically black university located in Tallahassee, FL.
Nearly a thousand pre-college students and their parents attended this summer’s college fair, featuring some 50 colleges and universities. Mini sessions provided much needed information to families preparing to educate their children. The college fair serves as preparation for future scholars who will be seeking scholarships in years to come.
Starting with the training and competition of Scholastic Motivation through the scholarships provided during the annual summer convention, AIM and Chairman Sheard are equipping generations of talented youth to maximize their potential, and use their God-given ability to achieve academic success.
