USCA students to be awarded $1,000 scholarships named after the university's first black student

The University of South Carolina Aiken’s Black Alumni Council held its second annual Brayboy Brooks Scholarship Breakfast on Saturday, Sept. 21, at the Aiken Electric Cooperative Building on 2790 Wagener Rd.

The event honored Rianna Williams, a senior sociology major, and Keylis Garcia Baro, a senior elementary education major, with $1,000 scholarships each.

Back in 1965, Ms. Barbara Alicia Brayboy Brooks made history as the first Black student at the University of South Carolina Aiken. To honor this significant milestone, the Black Alumni Council decided to name a scholarship in her honor.

“To the current recipients of this scholarship, I want to extend my heartful congratulations,” Brooks said during the reception. “You represent the bright future of which your dreams are not limited by certain circumstances.

“I feel like this is a great opportunity,” Williams said. “Besides having the Pell Grant, this scholarship feels very rewarding in helping me to feel recognized for the work I’ve done on campus and in the community.”

Williams has devoted herself to fostering unity on campus by joining the Black Student Union (BSU). One of the core missions of BSU has been to amplify the voices of Black students and advocate for their needs.

“Through active listening and valuing the perspectives of others, I've sought to create a climate of diversity, equity, and inclusion that embraces all individuals regardless of their background or identity,” she said.

Baro serves as an ambassador for the Call Me MISTER Program, which mentors future teachers from socioeconomically and culturally diverse communities. She believes the organization has made a positive impact on her education.

“I have been actively engaged in promoting the program and its mission,” Baro said. “Through my participation in various events and outreach efforts, such as recruitment shows and community engagements, I have helped raise awareness about the importance of diversity in the education field.”

Brooks expressed her desire to uphold the scholarship's legacy and emphasized how fortunate the Aiken community is to have institutions like USCA that fully support their students.

For more information, contact USCA Marketing & Communication at news@usca.edu.