From Campus to Classroom: Stories That Shape Education
New Birth hosted what it called its inaugural “Scholarship Sunday,” announcing a partnership with 16 HBCUs to award more than $2 million in scholarships.
STONECREST, Ga. — A metro Atlanta family said they were blindsided after traveling more than an hour to attend a church service they believed would offer their daughter a college scholarship, only to leave without financial support.
The confusion stems from how the scholarship opportunity was promoted by New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Stonecrest.
On June 29, New Birth hosted what it called its inaugural “Scholarship Sunday,” announcing a partnership with 16 Historically Black Colleges and Universities to award more than $2 million in scholarships to 400 graduating high school seniors in metro Atlanta.
The church, led by Dr. Jamal Bryant, said in a statement that all 45 students who applied through New Birth’s annual scholarship program received financial awards directly from the ministry. Additionally, more than 350 students were awarded scholarships through the church’s HBCU partners.
However, some families said the promotional messaging, including an Instagram post published late the night before my Bryant, left them with different expectations.
“There was an Instagram post that said, ‘If your child is in need of college scholarship, bring them,’” one mother told 11Alive’s Angelina Salcedo. “They didn’t need to be a member of the church. It just said, bring them. They’re going to bless some people.”
The family, believing the opportunity was open and immediate, drove over an hour to attend the event.
“It was a beautiful service,” the mother said. “But when we arrived, it seemed things had changed.”
She said the focus shifted to students who had not yet been accepted into college. Some of those students were accepted on the spot by HBCUs and informed they would receive scholarship funding. Others were directed to complete an online form to apply for a $1,000 scholarship, with a promise of follow-up communication within 48 hours.
Her daughter, who had already been accepted into college, was among those who filled out the form. Days later, the family received an email stating that only 45 students — all of whom had applied through the church’s traditional scholarship process — would be receiving financial assistance.
“It was just really heartbreaking,” the mother said. “You feel like you’re getting closer to your goal, and then the kids are disappointed. It was a letdown.”
She added that the experience left her daughter and other students feeling ignored and discouraged.
In response to the concerns, New Birth issued a statement emphasizing the broader goals and successes of the event:
“In June, New Birth Missionary Baptist Church proudly hosted our inaugural Scholarship Sunday, marking a milestone moment that opened new doors of opportunity for both our members and graduating seniors throughout metro Atlanta.
In partnership with 16 distinguished Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), students from across the region were awarded more than $2 million in scholarships during the service. Among the recipients, all 45 New Birth member applicants received scholarships funded directly by the ministry, and more than 350 additional graduating high school students were awarded scholarships directly from our valued HBCU partners.
Recognizing the growing financial challenges for families associated with higher education, we are both humbled and energized by the impact of this collaborative effort. Scholarship Sunday reflects our ongoing commitment to bridging the gap between aspiration and access, and we look forward to continuing this life-changing work by expanding opportunities for future scholars in the years to come.”
While the church considers the event a success, the family at the center of this story hopes that future communications will be clearer, so others won’t be left feeling misled. 11Alive also saw other families who felt similarly commenting on social media.
“You don’t know what’s going to come through when applying to scholarships,” the mother said. “We’re all just kind of sitting on the edge of our chairs.”
Clarification: In the video above, the reporter states that the more than 350 students who received scholarships from HBCUs were members of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church. As stated by the church, 45 were members of New Birth, and the remaining 350+ students in the church’s audience were high school graduates.
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