H.O.P.E. Scholarship founders provide academic, career advice to Dillard students

6th April 2015   ·   0 Comments

By Charmaine Jackson
Contributing Writer

For college students, many thoughts abound regarding life after graduation.

The H.O.P.E. (Helping Others Pursue Education) Scholarship, a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit organization, led a “Life After College” panel discussion to provide Dillard students with career advice; address common post-college concerns; and to award a H.O.P.E. scholarship to a Dillard student, at its third annual H.O.P.E. Tour.

As graduates of Howard Univ­ersity, co-founders Jeffrey Chance and Michelle Janaye created the non-profit to give back to historically Black colleges and universities (HBCU). Although they had “little time and little money,” Janaye said she and Chance partnered with other HBCU alumni to collect money and other resources to be able to provide need-based scholarships for college students.

Dr. Kimbrough, who supported H.O.P.E. in the past by contributing to their blog, said he thought it was a great idea when he discovered they wanted to come to the campus. “I’m always supportive of groups that are really trying to provide resources for students. Not just scholarship dollars, but just in terms of information that’s going to help the students,” Dr. Kimbrough stated.

The panel, which consisted of young professionals included: H.O.P.E. Strategy Coordinator, Isaiah Branton; Dillard University Director of Alumni Relations, Adrian Anderson; Xavier University Academic Programs Chair, Kimberly Moorehead; and Director of Operations at Mildred Osborne Charter School, Danielle Tollerson.

The focus of the first discussion centered on college majors and how graduates can magnify the importance of what they studied in school and miss opportunities, as a result. Panelists confessed to majoring in a specific field of study while in college, while ultimately pursuing a career in a different field after college. In some instances, the deviations in the original plan lead some of the panelists to find their passion.

For instance, Tollerson said she was adamant about becoming a lawyer. While in college, she studied for the LSAT, and also completed a year of law school, but realized it was not a good fit for her. Not sure of what her next move should be, she worked a full-time job in the mental health field to pay the bills. She recalled she did not know what she wanted to pursue, but credited an encounter with a source in the store with which she exchanged contact information. That contact called her days after to inform her of a career opportunity that became available.

“Let people know what your interests are so when something comes up, they will think of you, “Tollerson said.

Janaye, who moderated the panel, advised students to take their time when making career decisions. “If you want to take a year, you have time to think it out. Don’t feel pressured to act or achieve right away,” she stated.

When applying to graduate school or acquiring a job opportunity, Anderson stated sometimes “being rejected is a blessing.” “Sometimes it’s good you not go there because you want to have a good experience. They are choosing you, but you are choosing them too,” she added.

As for salary, students were encouraged to negotiate and not settle for the first offer all of the time. “It will always be no if you don’t ask,” stated Tollerson. Be­fore accepting the job and the salary, they recommended consulting with others in the profession, as well as past professors; develop professional contacts and research salaries on Web sites such as, Glassdoor.com and Salary.com.

In addition, Anderson said the students should take whatever the social and professional capital is into consideration by weighing out if the position will give you the experience you need “to catapult you to the place you want to be and weighing out if accepting a lower wage is worth it.”

For many students, the burden of student loans is stressful; however, keeping track of loan providers, being honest with how much can be paid monthly by negotiating payment arrangements, and electing for a forbearance to avoid defaulting on any loans, are just a few panel suggestions.

Ashley Green, a junior biology major, received $250 as this year’s H.O.P.E. Scholarship recipient. H.O.P.E. also donated $250 to Dillard University, and provided free professional head shots for all students who attended.

For more information on the H.O.P.E. Scholarship Initiative and how to donate, visit their Web site, at www.thehopescholarship.org.

This article originally published in the April 6, 2015 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.