WHY Become a W.E.B. Du Bois Scholar?
Why would anyone in his or her right mind agree to wake up and get out of bed early on Saturday mornings, when he or she could be sleeping? That's what W.E.B. Du Bois Scholars agree to do during the school year, so they can get to The WEB by 10:00 am.
There are a wide variety of reasons why Du Bois Scholars are willing to make this sacrifice. Perhaps the most powerful one is the other Du Bois Scholars. The WEB is a unique community of hard working, top performing African-American scholars, athletes, actors, singers, dancers, musicians, writers and scientists from high schools and communities across metropolitan Atlanta. Sure, you could spend days on MySpace or Face Book, looking for other students like you — students with a real commitment to excellence in the classroom, in their extra-curricular activities and to lending a hand. Or you could apply to join The WEB and find them sitting next to you.
A second powerful reason is the opportunity to be at the vanguard of a growing movement of students who are taking steps to make academic excellence the rule, not the exception for African American students — who know that hard work, dedication and discipline leads to accomplishment and success. Du Bois Scholars are starting what we hope will be a chain reaction among their peers to see that doing well in school is important and impressive, hot and sexy.
Once you get to WEB meetings, you'll find more reasons why getting up on Saturday morning isn't so bad, after all.
The WEB offers:
- A book scholarship upon graduation from high school;
- Recommendations for college admissions and scholarship applications;
- High value field trips and activities to local radio stations to meet djs, to Phillips Arena for a visit to the Hawks' locker room and a backstage view of how events are put together and more;
- A lecture series held on Atlanta college campuses, presented by leading African-American professors;
- Opportunities to be in discussion with local and national leaders;
- Mentoring and college planning advise by top performing undergraduate students who intern as Du Bois Fellows;
- Opportunities to build your network of support and to learn the value of having a network; and
- Opportunities to earn valuable community service hours by contributing feature stories and offering tips about competing in school and preparing for college, tutoring your peers and younger students, and speaking about preparation, hard work, and success in school to other students.
Du Bois Scholars have fund, hone essential personal habits and leadership skills, prepare for their transition to college while acquiring valuable community service hours for their steps to actively engage their peers and younger students' to elevate academic achievement. By joining the WEB, Du Bois Scholars become a part of a growing network of students who are lifelong champions for educational opportunity.