The Ewing-Jones Scholarship

“Leaving the program, I had the skills needed to properly articulate precisely why certain injustices were wrong. The professor's expectations of the students was at a college level, which was reflected in the work we were assigned. While these heightened standards were sometimes daunting, they proved to help me with time management and with handling multiple responsibilities once I left the academy. The combination of the work, friends, professors, and activities all add up to a truly fun and profound experience.”
- DaiGianna, 2018 Scholarship Winner

“DaiGianna has grown to be more responsible after her time at the W.E.B. Du Bois Leadership Academy. I noticed that she has taken action in more leadership positions at school. The professor's evaluations really motivated her to share her opinions in classroom discussions. DaiGianna has even taught me many things about black history that I didn't know before. Any parent who wants an open-minded child with the tools needed to be prepared for adulthood should encourage their child to attend the academy.”
- DaiGianna’s Mom

“I learned to be more independent and had a sense of what life as a college student would look like in a couple of years. Aside from that, my work ethic was one that I incredibly got good at. I also felt like the Du Bois Institute made me manage my time wisely and get work done in a reasonable amount of time. Over the course of the program, I made a lot of friendships and felt surrounded by amazing people who had an ambition to learn like me. They were supportive and were there for me when I was feeling homesick. The people made the experience even more amazing.”
- Francisco, 2019 Scholarship Winner

“When he came back, he was an independent and mature young man. He now does his own laundry and he’s become more responsible and mature. I was proud of him and his accomplishments. It makes me happy to see how my children are working hard to pursue a better education.”
- Francisco’s Mom

WHAT IS THE EWING-JONES SCHOLARSHIP?

DEADLINE: APRIL 10, 2021

The Ewing-Jones Scholarship will support one young person who wishes to attend the Leadership Academy at the W.E.B. Du Bois Scholars Institute, hosted at Princeton University. The mission of the program is as follows:

The WEB Du Bois Scholars Institute is a leadership development organization for adolescents and secondary students from families and communities who have experienced historical barriers to achievement and opportunity. To help overcome these challenges, the Institute develops a diverse cadre of leaders and scholars who, through rigorous preparation and nurturance, excel in higher education and professionally. With an array of academic enriched content, career development resources and cultural awareness, the Institute aims to foster well rounded young minds and wisdom-loving change agents working to create a more just and humane world.

Supporting a student who wishes to attend this program represents a union of our individual interests. Damon Jones participated in the Du Bois Scholars Institute as a high school student and has remained active in the organization throughout his life; currently he is the Chair of the Board of Directors. Eve Ewing, a sociologist of education, is passionate about educational access, racial justice, culturally-sustaining pedagogy, and the life and legacy of W.E.B. Du Bois.

Who is Eligible?

Applicants for the Ewing-Jones Scholarship must meet the following requirements.

• Be a ninth grader enrolled in a high school within the City of Chicago.

• Identify as a person of color and reside in a household with an income of $65,000 or less.

• Maintain at least an overall B average.

• Be available to participate in the full Summer Institute program, which is five weeks long and in summer 2021 will be virtual.

what’s the application process?

DEADLINE: APRIL 10, 2021

Step 1:
Carefully review the Du Bois Program website to make sure the program is a good fit for you. Note that the Ewing-Jones Scholarship supports the Leadership Academy.

Step 2:
Obtain two (2) letters of recommendation; at least one from a teacher or counselor. They must submit their letter of reference here. Be sure to give them the link and plenty of notice.

Step 3:
Complete a student application, including an essay consisting of at least 500 words stating why you wish to participate in the Institute and describing your education and career goals, community service activities and/or leadership roles you have performed.

Step 4:
Applicants will be notified of their status by mid-April. If you are chosen as a finalist, you will be asked to complete a candidate interview.

Step 5:
The student selected from the interview round will then complete one final Skype interview and writing prompt for the Du Bois Scholars Institute.

WHO STARTED THIS SCHOLARSHIP?

We are Eve L. Ewing and Damon Jones. We share a commitment to service and fighting for access to the things people in our communities need and deserve in order to be free. This is a commitment we admire and appreciate about each other and it is a cornerstone of our relationship. When we became engaged to get married, we agreed that rather than honor our love and partnership with a ring, we would like to support a young person in taking the next steps in their life.

Although we grew up in different places (Chicago, IL and Hillside, NJ) we both had very similar experiences. We were supported and loved not only by our families, but by others--mentors, educators, scholarship donors, program leaders-- who saw something in us and who made our life journeys possible with their generosity of time and spirit. Without these people, we would not be who we are. Their kindness and their faith saw us go from Chicago and New Jersey to the University of Chicago, Harvard, Berkeley, and Stanford. We are blessed to be able to do work we love, to pursue our passions and our intellectual curiosity while also being able to make a living. While we understand that academia and formal educational institutions are not the only pathway to a fulfilling life by any means, for us the pursuit of scholarship has been life-changing. Now, we aim to celebrate our partnership and the people who helped get us here by paving the road for someone else. 

a student asked me to submit a letter of reference. how do i do that?

Letters of recommendation can be submitted here. Letters of recommendation are due by 11:59 PM on April 10, 2021.

An application is not considered complete until two letters have been submitted. 

Questions?