When it comes to college, costs add up quickly and students must struggle to make ends meet. For a lucky few, scholarships can offer help.
“The average student probably gets between $500 and $3,000 in scholarship if they make the effort to apply,” said Round Rock ISD Counselor Kathy Hernandez.
A new scholarship, however, is raising concern. Offered by a group in Central Texas called the Former Majority Association for Equality, it is available to white males only. There are five, $500 scholarships.
The man behind the controversial move is 28-year-old Colby Bohannan. President of the non-profit, he announced the scholarships in January.
“Since there are scholarships out there for African-Americans and Asian-Americans and Pacific Island Americans and females, then why not have a scholarship out there for Caucasians?” Bohannan asked.
Recent census findings may help support his case. Non-Hispanic whites now form less than half the population in Texas.
One Texas State student said that if his race helps him qualify for money, he will take it.
“I think it’s awesome,” said freshman Josh Henfey. “I would definitely apply for that.”
The rules of the scholarship stipulate that students can be of any age, and must be enrolled in an institute of higher learning. They must provide transcripts, a recommendation letter, and standardized test scores. They must write two essays, and also be able to prove they are at least a quarter Caucasian.
Bohannan said that he got the idea while applying for college. He said scholarship money was not there for him and that he felt excluded.
To pay for school, Bohannan enlisted in the Army, served two tours in Iraq, and was honorably discharged. Now a junior at Texas State, he is majoring in communications.
Dozens of applicants have applied for his scholarship, and they find out in July if they received it.
In the meantime, there is a concern this sends the wrong message.
James Harrington is director of the Texas Civil Rights Project, and he called the scholarships regressive. He also said they undermined strides toward diversity.
“What you’re doing is going back and reinforcing old stereotypes, old fears,” Harrington said. “It is the old divide and conquer mechanism.”
Bohannan denies that.
“It’s less about black and white,” he said. “The true majority in this country are the people that cannot afford school.”
Bohannan’s board has received enough donations to double the amount of scholarship money for the next semester. One day they hope to give out a full ride.
