The Phyllis Wheatley Board of Directors created the Scholarship Program to complement its annual Mid-Summer Soirée program, an event that was first introduced by former executive director Dr. Dorothy I. Height in the 1940s.
The Talent Showcase component was established in 2017 to provide a platform for DC youth to compete for scholarships as well as showcase their creative talents. The talent can be, for example, any of the following: vocal performance, visual art, spoken word/poetry, dramatic reading, dance, or innovative technology discovery. Click here to apply.
The scholarship program is open to all graduating seniors who reside in the District of Columbia and attend a DC Public, Charter, or private high school. One to five scholarships will be awarded in the range between $1,000 and $2,500. To be considered, applicants must submit a completed application by April 30, 2024. Applicants must demonstrate a GPA of 2.5 through 4.0 via their high school transcript and include the required essays, recommendations, and identify and describe a talent they must present as part of the Mid-Summer Soirée scheduled for Sunday, July 21, 2024.
The Mid-Summer Soiree provides a wonderful opportunity to showcase the talents of our scholarship recipients. In addition, past scholarship recipients are invited back to share their experiences and advice with the graduating seniors as they embark on their own college journeys.
Please visit our YouTube channel to learn more about our talented scholarship recipients. For awareness, the Phyllis Wheatley Board of Directors has awarded 27 scholarships and four book awards totaling $48,750 to deserving students in the District of Columbia since inception of the Phyllis Wheatley YWCA Talent Showcase component in 2017.
