The Caribbean Association of Madison (CAM) has begun accepting applications from students in Dane County for their annual scholarship program.
“For the CAM Scholarship, we’re looking for students who have demonstrated some sort of past, current or future interest in improving the well-being of communities of color in Dane County,” CAM Member and Scholarship Committee Chair Keisha Lindsay said.
The organization has awarded thousands of dollars to over a dozen students since 2012. In June, CAM will award up to three non-renewable “CAM Scholarships” valued at $750 each and one “Jah Tony” Scholarship, named in honor of the group’s founder, worth $1,000.
“One thing is really different this year is that we have one application and two sets of scholarships,” Lindsay said.
Both the CAM Scholarship and “Jah Tony” Scholarship awards highlight students’ community involvement. Lindsay also explained students can apply to both if they choose.
“We are taking a very wide and open-ended approach to thinking about volunteering,” Lindsay said.
She said these awards will help raise awareness of disparities within and communities of color but also encourage students to make a difference in those communities. This also means celebrating students who plan on addressing these disparities in education, the criminal justice system, and in healthcare.
“Communities of Color are dealing with all sorts of structural barriers that their white counterparts are not dealing with,” Lindsay said.
She explained volunteering could involve social service, cultural work, or activism within Latinx, Hmong, African American communities. She said the committee would look for participation in groups like the Black Student Union (BSU), dance groups, student government, or if a student has advocated for immigration reform.
“Those communities are important, especially in Dane County. A lot of people don’t realize there are some of the biggest achievement gaps in the nation,” she said.
Eligible residents must have lived in the area for at least six months prior to submitting an application. The committee will review scholarship applications based on financial need, community involvement, and academic performance.
“We don’t have a hard cutoff for academic performance. As an educator, I often see students improve over time,” Lindsay said. “A lot of students have part-time jobs to help their families. There’s a whole range of things that can affect students’ academic performance.”
Linsay is also an Associate Professor of Gender and Women Studies & Political Science at the University of Wisconsin – Madison. She said the organization hopes to reach a range of students, not just students who are going off to college but returning students as well.
“We want to say that hey, obviously this scholarship is not going to pay your tuition, but maybe pay for your laptop,” she said.
Students have until May 25 to submit their application and all supporting documents. Winners will be notified by June 20. The application for the 2020 CAM Scholarship will be completely online this year.
Lindsay said the committee has also thought about the effects of the pandemic on students and their families which is why the organization decided to move the application deadline to an earlier date. This will allow students to receive their awards earlier.
“Of course, we know that with COVID, there are students of color who are disproportionately affected and communities of color are especially affected,” Lindsay said.
Apply at https://www.caribbeanmadison.org/#/education/scholarship.
