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2010 Ron Brown Scholars Announced

April 22, 2010

Ron Brown Scholar Program Names 2010 Scholarship Recipients
Twelve of 6,000+ Applicants Join Ranks of Prestigious African American Scholar Program

Charlottesville, VA (April 19, 2010) – The Ron Brown Scholar Program, the nation’s leading scholarship program for African-American youth, today announced its 2010 class of Scholars. Of the more than 6,000 applications received this year, only 12 were awarded this honor.

Founded in 1996 and named in honor of the first African-American Secretary of Commerce, the Ron Brown Scholar Program provides students with the financial resources to attend some of the finest colleges and universities in the country, in addition to promoting outstanding service opportunities for the next generation of promising African-American leaders. “I am continually impressed by the thousands of students who apply to become Ron Brown Scholars,” said Michael Mallory, executive director of the Ron Brown Scholar Program. “This year’s group of finalists is one of our strongest classes ever, with more than half scheduled to graduate in the top one or two percent of their class. These gifted young people all bring unique backgrounds and personal experiences to the Program but all share spectacular achievements in academics and a profound commitment to using their education experiences for the benefit of their communities and society as a whole.”

Ron Brown Scholars are selected on the basis of demonstrated academic excellence, leadership potential, social commitment and financial need. Some key highlights of the program include:

More than half of Ron Brown Scholars attend Ivy League universities;
Two Ron Brown Scholars were elected to be the First Marshals of their Harvard University graduating classes, considered the highest honor bestowed upon an undergraduate;
One Ron Brown Scholar has been selected as a Truman Scholar and three Ron Brown Scholars have been selected as finalists for the Rhodes Scholarship;
Ron Brown Scholars dedicate themselves to enriching lives in their local communities and worldwide. For example, nine Ron Brown Scholars have conducted AIDS research and community service with the Institute of Human Virology;
With a 100% graduation rate, Ron Brown Scholars go on to succeed in a variety of leadership positions. From finance executives and top lawyers, to award-winning playwrights and Supreme Court Justice clerks, they have published books and documentaries, appeared as expert guests on radio and television, and been invited as speakers to numerous international conferences.

Applicants must proceed through a highly competitive selection process against thousands of other qualified candidates, culminating in an invitation to spend a weekend in Washington, D.C. for the final round of interviews. Winners are chosen at the conclusion of the Selection Weekend each year.

The 2010 Ron Brown Scholars are:

Charday I. Adams (Sacramento, CA) - Grant Union HS
Justin L. Bullock (Detroit, MI) - Renaissance HS
Ubah J. Dimbil (Los Gatos, CA) - Westmont HS
Rashawn T. Dye (Spring Valley, NY) - Ramapo Senior HS
Frederik Groce (Lakewood, OH) - Lakewood HS
Andrea M. Headley (Pompano Beach, FL) - Fort Lauderdale HS
Danai S. Kadzere (Greensboro, NC) - Phillips Exeter Academy
Javaughn A. Lawrence (Coral Springs, FL) - Deerfield Beach HS
Lyric L. McHenry (Santa Monica, CA) - Marlborough School
Melanie L. Newell (Sallis, MS) - McAdams HS
Joshua V. P. Sibblies (Windsor, CT) - University HS of Science & Engineering
Maya J. Torain (Baltimore, MD) - Catonsville HS