Category: News

Birmingham Promise scholars plan, execute ‘Stay Warm, Stay Well’ event

Posted on February 18, 2026

Stay Warm, Stay Well was a student-led community service event planned and executed by Birmingham Promise scholars from Alabama State University, Auburn University, and Auburn University at Montgomery. Students identified a community need for increased mental health awareness and designed an impactful event at Ramsay High School for their peers, parents, and professionals.

Scholars from each university collaborated on panelist outreach, marketing design, logistics, hospitality, and content to ensure an engaging and successful afternoon. The response was strong, with more than 190 RSVPs through Eventbrite.

Birmingham Promise Success Coach Glenn Wiggins reflected on the day with pride, noting, “This experience was especially meaningful because it showed what’s possible when students are trusted to lead.”

The event included two mental health panels for students and parents, featuring licensed counselors, engineers, a YMCA site director, and professionals from the real estate and EdTech sectors.

For students feeling overwhelmed, panelist Shuntasia Williams offered a simple but powerful reminder: “Just breathe. Breathe in and breathe out, and know that you are OK. You’re going to get through whatever you’re going through.”

In addition to dialogue, Stay Warm, Stay Well delivered tangible support. Students collected over 40 winter essential items, which were disbursed to families in need across Birmingham and Montgomery. Multiple giveaways were also offered, including gift cards and original artwork donated by an ASU scholar.

To high school students looking toward what comes next, Brandon Thompson shared this advice: “Stay true to yourself and allow everything to be what it’s going to be. Take everything with a grain of salt. You’re human, doing this for the first time, and there is no set rulebook for you to follow.”

Stay Warm, Stay Well was more than an event, it was a testament to what happens when students are empowered to lead with purpose. Thank you to our scholars for all of your hard work and dedication in hosting this vital community event.

Seniors aiming for four-year college: Apply by Feb. 1 for Promise scholarship

Posted on January 7, 2026

Seniors in Birmingham City Schools who want to attend a four-year college or university have until Feb. 1 to complete their Birmingham Promise scholarship application – a deadline that is coming months earlier than in years past.

The application deadline for students who plan to attend two-year colleges will remain May 1.

“We want to make sure that all students in Birmingham City Schools have the chance to pursue their college dreams,” said Samantha Williams, executive director of Birmingham Promise. “We have learned over the past few years that our students need to apply to college by February in order to maximize their housing and external scholarship options. We know that February 1 is early, but applying later than that jeopardizes students’ ability to successfully attend the college of their choosing.”

Birmingham Promise covers up to four years of tuition in public Alabama colleges and universities for all Birmingham City Schools graduates. To date, Promise has provided more than $15 million in tuition assistance to more than 1,600 graduates of Birmingham City Schools.

Students who are not sure about their plans should apply by Feb. 1 to make sure they still have all their choices, Williams said.

The Birmingham Promise application is simple, and all graduating seniors at Birmingham City Schools should have received a link to the application via their Outlook email school account.

Anyone with questions or needing help can email scholarships@birminghampromise.org or call 205-843-5967.

In addition to completing a Birmingham Promise application, students must also fill out their Free Application for Federal Student Aid, which is commonly referred to as FAFSA.

For that, parents or guardians will need to furnish financial information from records such as tax returns and bank statements. Promise encourages parents to gather those documents in advance and read FAFSA questions and instructions carefully. They can also find FAFSA tips and common errors to avoid at https://birminghampromise.org/resources/financial-aid/.

Promise provides last-dollar assistance, meaning it covers tuition and mandatory fees not covered by other sources of financial aid, including Pell grants. Students are encouraged to complete the Promise application even if they think their tuition is covered and even if they plan to attend a private or out-of-state college.

“Completing the application keeps students’ options open in case other assistance falls through, or they end up staying in state at a public college or university,” Williams said. “We don’t want anyone to miss out on the benefits of Birmingham Promise simply because they didn’t meet the deadline to apply.”

About Birmingham Promise

Birmingham Promise provides up to four years of tuition assistance for graduates of Birmingham City Schools who attend public colleges and universities in Alabama. It also manages a paid internship program that allows high school seniors to build valuable work experience. For more information on Birmingham Promise, visit http://www.birminghampromise.org/ or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Huffman graduate starts third year at Auburn, continues march to career in cancer research

Posted on October 20, 2025

Sparked by his maternal grandfather’s death, Markelle Scott developed a passion early on for a career in cancer research. Birmingham Promise helped put him on a path to make that dream come true.

When he was a senior at Huffman High School, Markelle got an early career boost as a Birmingham Promise intern in an oncology lab at the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center at UAB. “It was a very great experience that introduced me to the basics of cancer research,” Scott said in his valedictory address at Huffman. “Through the Birmingham Promise internship, I’ve had a head start in pursuing my career”

As he headed to Auburn University, Birmingham Promise also helped him with tuition and other support on his journey toward a degree in biomedical sciences. Now in his junior year, Markelle has continued to build on the opportunities he received and to make progress toward his goals.

Starting his freshman year, he began working as an undergraduate research assistant studying metastatic melanoma in Auburn’s College of Pharmacy. He’s now entering his third year in the job.

This past summer, he completed a summer internship at the University of Colorado Cancer Center. After applying for the program and being accepted, Markelle worked as a research fellow at the Anschutz Medical Campus from May to August, focusing on thyroid cancer that has become resistant to treatments.

In 2023, Markelle was among the first cohort of students interviewed and selected to be part of Auburn’s Melton Scholars Program, which not only offers financial assistance to outstanding students but also supports their academic achievement, professional development and overall success on campus and beyond.

The program is named for 1988 Auburn graduate Harold Melton, a former Chief Justice of the Georgia Supreme Court and Auburn’s first Black student body president. Through it, Markelle is part of an impressive peer group and a unique network of advisors who are invested in his success.

For Markelle, though, assistance is a two-way street; he also seizes opportunities to provide help to his peers. He currently works on campus as a learning assistant, a job that allows him to help fellow students in Calculus I understand and apply the content.

Markelle encourages students to take advantage of all the resources that are available to them. If they’re a Birmingham Promise student, that means ongoing coaching and other supports. Even if they’re not with Birmingham Promise, on-campus tutoring and a wide range of other supports can help students get through rough patches.

Markelle is not shy in saying he’s been on both sides of providing – and needing — help. “I’ve had my high points and low points,” he said. As his classes have gotten more advanced and more challenging – physics is currently his hardest course – Markelle has been proactive in taking steps to stay on top of his studies.

It would be easy to look at his academic and career accomplishments and think Markelle is all work and no play. But he says that’s not the case. He lives off-campus in an apartment with two roommates, and he finds time to spend time with his friends and pursue interests outside of academics and career. He also leads a small group with one of his friends, a space where he and his friends read, interpret, and discuss the Bible.

“In college, it’s a very big thing to find a good balance,” he said. “College burnout is real. If you don’t take time to do things for yourself – enjoying a hobby or having fun with your friends – you can lose your identity. You must keep doing the things that make you who you are.”

Finding that balance has not deterred Markelle one bit from his goals.

Although he at one time considered medical school, and he may yet go that route, his current goal is to keep working toward a Ph.D. in cancer biology or molecular biology – and his dream career in cancer research.

“I definitely made the right decision in choosing this path,” Markelle said.

Birmingham Promise receives $1 million in CAFE Group’s Luminary Awards

Posted on September 18, 2025

Birmingham Promise Executive Director Samantha Williams has won a national award that will provide $1 million to support scholarship and internship programs for students at Birmingham City Schools.

The CAFE Group announced today that Williams is among five winners of this year’s 1954 Project Luminary Award, which goes to leaders at organizations that are working to transform educational outcomes in Black communities.

“This recognition is a tremendous honor for Samantha, and it is a true reflection of the caliber of leadership she has provided for Birmingham Promise,” said Danny McKinney, chairman of the Birmingham Promise board of directors. “We are proud of this award and grateful to The CAFE Group for supporting and helping us uphold the vision of Birmingham Promise.”

Named for the year of the Brown v. Board of Education decision, The 1954 Project is The CAFE Group’s flagship initiative dedicated to fulfilling the promise of equitable education in the United States. Its Luminary Award winners receive $1 million in unrestricted funding for their programs and join a network of innovators transforming education across the country.  https://www.thecafe.org/meet-the-2025-luminaries

“These leaders represent the breadth of innovation happening across the education ecosystem,” said Tiffany Thompson, Chief Impact Officer of The CAFE Group. “Together, this new class strengthens the infrastructure for lasting change and pushes us closer to a future where educational opportunity clears the way for every child to thrive.”

Williams said she is thrilled to be included among this year’s winners, and she is especially thankful for a significant investment that will help Birmingham Promise increase the number of college graduates from Birmingham City Schools, provide students with pathways for good jobs and meaningful careers, and sustain Birmingham Promise programs going forward.

“It is an incredible honor to be selected as a Luminary,” Williams said. “This is a testament to how powerfully our mission and students’ achievements resonate, reaching national donors who have hundreds of organizations and leaders to choose from. I couldn’t be more excited for this partnership and the support and opportunities it will provide.”

Birmingham Promise covers up to four years of tuition in public Alabama colleges and universities for all Birmingham City Schools graduates. To date, Promise has provided more than $15 million in tuition assistance to more than 1,600 graduates of Birmingham City Schools. It has also provided internships to more than 350 Birmingham City Schools seniors to allow them to build career networks and job skills

Applications for Birmingham Promise scholarships and for spring internships will open Oct. 1 for current seniors at Birmingham City Schools.

 About Birmingham Promise: 

Birmingham Promise provides up to four years of tuition assistance for graduates of Birmingham City Schools who attend public colleges and universities in Alabama. It also manages a paid internship program that allows high school seniors to build valuable work experience. For more information on Birmingham Promise, visit http://www.birminghampromise.org/ or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

About The CAFE Group:

The CAFE Group is a nonprofit reimagining how philanthropy operates. They invest in visionary leaders, early-career talent, and the infrastructure of social change, aligning capital, growing networks, and cultivating love as a strategy for lasting impact. To learn more, visit https://www.thecafe.org.

KPMG supports Birmingham Promise with grant to boost student access to education

Posted on September 4, 2025

Birmingham Promise has been selected to receive a grant from the KPMG U.S. Foundation as part of a program promoting education, mental well-being and vibrant communities.

Birmingham Promise will receive installments totaling $112,500 over three years.

“We are thrilled to partner with KPMG,” said Samantha Williams, executive director of Birmingham Promise. “This grant will go far toward providing scholarships for Birmingham City Schools students, while also opening up meaningful opportunities for KPMG to support our mission and community.”

Birmingham Promise covers up to four years of tuition in public Alabama colleges and universities for all Birmingham City Schools graduates. To date, Promise has provided more than $15 million in tuition assistance to more than 1,600 graduates of Birmingham City Schools. It has also provided internships to more than 350 BCS seniors to develop job skills and career connections.

The grant is part of KPMG’s nationwide initiative to provide more than $2 million this summer to organizations that are helping to build healthier communities for all through education and other programs.

“Birmingham Promise is creating life-changing opportunities for local students by expanding access to education and workforce experiences,” said Casey Bartok, KPMG Birmingham Office Managing Partner. “We’re proud to collaborate with them through this grant to help strengthen pathways to college and career success for Birmingham’s next generation.”

About Birmingham Promise 

Birmingham Promise provides up to four years of tuition assistance for graduates of Birmingham City Schools who attend public colleges and universities in Alabama. It also manages a paid internship program that allows high school seniors to build valuable work experience. For more information on Birmingham Promise, visit http://www.birminghampromise.org/ or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

About KPMG

For more information on KPMG, visit KPMG U.S. Foundation and Corporate Responsibility.

Birmingham students face May 1 deadline for Birmingham Promise

Posted on April 10, 2025

Seniors in Birmingham City Schools face a May 1 deadline to complete their Birmingham Promise scholarship applications and ensure they have an opportunity to attend college tuition-free.

The program covers up to four years of tuition in public Alabama colleges and universities for all Birmingham City Schools graduates. To date, Promise has provided more than $11 million in tuition assistance to more than 1,600 graduates of Birmingham City Schools.

“This is an opportunity that we don’t want any Birmingham graduate to miss,” said Samantha Williams, executive director of Birmingham Promise. “There’s no grade requirement, but students will need to complete an application process. We urge students and their parents not to wait until the last minute to get started.”

FAFSA is required

In addition to completing a Birmingham Promise application, students must also fill out their Free Application for Federal Student Aid, which is commonly referred to as FAFSA. That process has undergone changes and created some challenges, Williams said.

Parents or guardians will need to furnish financial information from records such as tax returns and bank statements. Promise encourages parents to gather those documents in advance and read FAFSA questions and instructions carefully. They can also find FAFSA tips and common errors to avoid at https://birminghampromise.org/resources/financial-aid/.

The Birmingham Promise application is simple, and all graduating seniors at Birmingham City Schools should have received a link to the application via their Outlook email school account.

Anyone with questions or needing help can email scholarships@birminghampromise.org or call 205-843-5967.

Students have many choices

Birmingham graduates do not have to pursue a four-year degree to benefit from Birmingham Promise, Williams said. Scholarship funds can also be used for students who are interested in completing two-year community college degrees or even shorter certificate programs.

“Birmingham Promise is about making sure our students have a foundation for a solid financial future and a pathway to achieve their dreams,” Williams said. “Whether they want to become a mechanic, a lawyer, a chef or a nurse, Birmingham Promise is here to help.”

Promise provides last-dollar assistance meaning it covers tuition and mandatory fees not covered by other sources of financial aid, including Pell grants. Students are encouraged to complete the Promise application even if they think their tuition is covered or even if they plan to attend a private or out-of-state college.

“Completing the application keeps students’ options open in case other assistance falls through, or they end up staying in state at a public college or university,” Williams said. “We don’t want anyone to miss out on the benefits of Birmingham Promise simply because they didn’t meet the deadline to apply.”

About Birmingham Promise

Birmingham Promise provides up to four years of tuition assistance for graduates of Birmingham City Schools who attend public colleges and universities in Alabama. It also manages a paid internship program that allows high school seniors to build valuable work experience. For more information on Birmingham Promise, visit http://www.birminghampromise.org/ or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

WorkingNation features Promise programs in “Focus on Birmingham” story

Posted on April 4, 2025

WorkingNation featured Birmingham Promise scholarship and internship programs in “Focus on Birmingham,” part of an ongoing series to showcase how cities are creating jobs, opportunities and economic mobility for their residents. As explained by Promise Executive Director Samantha Williams: “We are focused on ensuring that students can enter life and careers well prepared and with the resources that they need in order to achieve economic security.” Promise is proud to be among a number of Birmingham initiatives included in the article.  Read here for the full story.

Chair of Birmingham Promise board earns spotlight for his investments in city’s future

Posted on March 12, 2025

Bham Now recently featured Danny McKinney, the chair of the Birmingham Promise board, in an article that highlighted his investments in Birmingham’s future — among them, his commitment to Birmingham Promise and its mission.

“The secret sauce with the Birmingham Promise is the success coaches, which are there to support our scholars throughout the college experience. We have a lot of first time college students who have questions or need extra support, whether it’s academic or personal,” McKinney told Bham Now. “We also work with a lot of businesses in town on internships and apprenticeships, because it’s really about setting up young people for long term success and finding great jobs. There are a lot of ways to do that — it doesn’t always have to be a traditional four year degree program.”

We are grateful for his support and his leadership!

Read the whole story here: https://bhamnow.com/2025/03/05/how-this-local-business-owner-invests-in-birminghams-future-and-you-can-too/

 

 

Birmingham Promise celebrates five years of providing scholarships, internships to city students

Posted on November 18, 2024

Birmingham Promise celebrated its fifth anniversary with inspiring stories from the students we serve and equally inspiring remarks from our leaders, partners and donors.

Congratulations to Leroy Abrahams, who served as the chairman of our board for most of our five years, on his Promise Keeper Award, and big thanks to all who are keeping the promise alive!

And a special, special thanks to American Cast Iron Pipe Co. and Encompass Health for sponsoring our fifth anniversary event!

Read all about it in the Birmingham Times: https://www.birminghamtimes.com/2024/11/birmingham-promise-celebrates-5-years-providing-scholarship-internships-for-city-students/.

Some Birmingham Promise students at UAB can get extra aid, thanks to city grant

Posted on November 14, 2024

Birmingham Promise students pursuing health-related majors at UAB may be eligible for extra financial aid through a city grant program that can help cover expenses such as summer tuition and books.

David Dada, director of government relations at UAB, said Birmingham Promise students can receive assistance through December 2025 from the City of Birmingham’s Good Jobs Challenge grant.

“This is a great opportunity for students who are interested in healthcare careers to close some gaps in financial aid,” Dada said. “Already, the Good Jobs grant is helping students on their journey to become nurses, doctors, optometrists, physical therapists, researchers and other kinds of health professionals.

Ciara Gray is one of at least 47 UAB students who are participating in the program. Gray, who is studying biomedical sciences in the pre-med track, said applying was easy, and the rewards have gone beyond financial help.

“Not only has the Good Jobs grant allowed me not to worry about the financial burden of summer tuition and books, but it has allowed me to connect with people,” she said at a recent press conference about the program. “I want to be a pediatric neurologist and with the Good Jobs grant, they have allowed me to connect with people when it comes to shadowing and volunteer hours.”

Birmingham Promise provides up to four years of tuition assistance for graduates of Birmingham City Schools who attend public colleges and universities in Alabama. UAB has a very active cohort of Birmingham Promise scholars.

But while Promise covers tuition and mandatory fees, students still sometimes struggle with other college expenses, and that’s where the Good Jobs grant can help.

Students who are interested can contact David Dada at dldada@uab.edu.

The City of Birmingham received the $10.8 million grant in 2022. It came from the Economic Development Administration in the U.S. Department of Commerce as part of the American Rescue Plan’s Good Jobs Challenge.

The grant is designed to help Birmingham build a pipeline of healthcare professionals and to provide career opportunities for underserved communities, particularly women and people of color.

In addition to the additional financial aid available to Birmingham Promise students at UAB, the Good Jobs grant can help adults who are unemployed or underemployed to get trained for high-quality healthcare jobs. (For more information, go to www.goodjobsbham.com.)