Black Alumni Association to host Magic Johnson Scholarship Fundraiser

The Michigan State Black Alumni Association is set to host the inaugural Earvin “Magic” Johnson Scholarship Fundraiser, today, August 11, at the Detroit Golf Club. Former scholarship recipients said the association has provided them with outstanding support.

Sierra Scott, Michigan State University (MSU) senior material science major and current president of the alumni association, has accepted 2 different scholarships — the Garrett Scholarship in 2012 and the General Scholarship in 2013 and 2014.

“I had to take out a tremendous amount of loans. The scholarship took a burden off of that,” Scott said. “This past semester we have tried to get students who are already enrolled at MSU.”

Kenny Williams, a MSU senior communications major minoring in leadership and integrative learning, said he thinks it is great that someone as influential as Magic Johnson is starting a scholarship fund.

“Sometimes people forget where they come from,” Williams said.

Williams said the Michigan State Black Alumni Association has provided him the “college experience that you really can’t get anywhere else.” Williams previously served as the association’s student group president.

The fundraiser will support the Michigan State Black Alumni Association endowment fund, the newly established Magic Johnson Scholarship Fund and an expendable fund for students, said Paris Ross, the National President of Michigan State Black Alumni Association. Ross said students can contact MSU to apply for the scholarships.

The funds aim at remedying MSU college students who struggle financially on their way toward graduation.