Two KIPP New Orleans Students Receive Lomax KIPP Scholarship
Students Will Receive Over $25,000 Each
New Orleans, LA – June 16, 2021 – Today the Knowledge Is Power Program (KIPP) Foundation and Howard University announced two KIPP New Orleans Schools students from Frederick A. Douglass High School, Dascia Cofield and Coltrane Floyd, are the 2021 Lomax KIPP Scholarship recipients at Howard University. The scholarship covers the total cost of attendance for these students after all sources of aid have been applied, so Dascia will receive $25,000 and Coltrane will receive $29,000.
“These KIPP alumni have already achieved levels of excellence that are the hallmark of Howard students, and they have done it in one of the most challenging years for students in our history,” said Howard University President and Charles R. Drew Professor of Surgery, Wayne A. I. Frederick, M.D., MBA. “We are excited to see these students soar even higher during their college career at Howard.”
Two Lomax KIPP Scholarships are awarded each year to incoming Howard University students from KIPP Public Schools nationwide. Each scholarship covers the gap between financial aid and the cost of attendance, ensuring students have full coverage to graduate debt-free in four years. The first recipients were selected in 2020, so this marks the second year of the program. The gift also designates on campus support for all KIPP alumni at the university. Currently, 84 KIPP graduates are enrolled at Howard University.
“This scholarship makes such a significant difference for our students who have dreamt of attending Howard University,” said Richard Barth, KIPP Foundation CEO. “This clears the path for our alumni to focus on succeeding in their chosen fields at college without having to worry about finances.”
Dascia Cofield is a senior at Frederick A. Douglass High School and Bard Early College in New Orleans, LA, and will join the Class of 2025 at Howard University in the fall. Dascia is an honor roll and Dean’s List scholar with a 4.2 cumulative GPA. She is a member of the National Honor Society, College Track New Orleans, and the Lady Bobcats volleyball team. Dascia has been a volunteer with the Power Coalition for Equity & Justice since 2017 and has supported voter registration, census and other community events. She has participated in academic, leadership, wellness and STEM development programs with Upward Bound, Live Oak Wilderness Camp, Youth Run NOLA, and the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE). Dascia will graduate this spring with honors receiving her high school diploma and an associate degree in liberal arts.
“I am so honored to be selected as a Lomax KIPP Scholarship recipient and attend Howard University. As a first-generation college student, I am extremely blessed to receive this award. Attending Howard University has been a huge dream of mine and means the world to me. I can finally say that I am a Bison thanks to Frederick A. Douglass High School, KIPP, Howard University, Dr. Lomax, and Mrs. Martha and Mr. Bruce Karsh,” said Dascia.
Coltrane Floyd is a senior at Frederick A. Douglass High School also. He is dually enrolled in the Bard Early College program and is on track to earn an associate degree alongside his high school diploma. Coltrane is a member his schools’ National Honor Society and has maintained Dean’s List throughout his high school career. His cumulative GPA is 4.6, ranking 5th in his class. Coltrane has taken and passed multiple advanced placement tests over the last three years and plans to earn his AP Capstone Certificate when he completes his research on the impact of the global pandemic on the emotional health of New Orleanian teens. He has served as an AP tutor and mentor on campus supporting teachers and students in AP courses he’s successfully completed. He also spent time during the summer of his junior year serving as a College Track ACT tutor. He serves as a youth running partner for a local non-profit, YouthRun Nola, and trains with YouthRun most Saturdays of the year.
Coltrane has long dreamed of becoming a Bison himself and is so proud to join the freshman class of 2025 at Howard University.
“I was born at Howard University Hospital and have dreamed of becoming a Bison ever since. Earning my space at Howard and then learning that the Lomax scholarship would help make that dream possible has meant everything to me. I’m so honored to be chosen, grateful for this opportunity and excited to get started!” said Coltrane.
“Both Dascia and Coltrane are two outstanding KIPP scholars, and I’m pleased that their work has earned them a scholarship to one our most prestigious HBCUs in the country, Howard University,” said Dr. Michael L. Lomax, president and CEO, UNCF (United Negro College Fund); current member of the KIPP board of directors; and honoree of the Lomax KIPP Scholarship. “Their talent and skills, especially during the last 18 months, have certainly shown through, and make them impressive additions to the Howard student body. I congratulate them and their families on this important accomplishment and next step in their lives—and look forward to how they will change our world for the better.”
About KIPP
KIPP, the Knowledge Is Power Program, is a national network of 255 public charter schools that are dedicated to preparing students in educationally underserved communities for success in college and life. KIPP schools are part of the free public school system and enrollment is open to all students. Started in 1994 as a middle school program, KIPP has since expanded to enroll students in all grades from pre-K through high school.
About Howard University
Founded in 1867, Howard University is a private, research university that is comprised of 13 schools and colleges. Students pursue more than 140 programs of study leading to undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University operates with a commitment to Excellence in Truth and Service and has produced one Schwarzman Scholar, three Marshall Scholars, four Rhodes Scholars, 12 Truman Scholars, 25 Pickering Fellows and more than 165 Fulbright recipients. Howard also produces more on-campus African-American Ph.D. recipients than any other university in the United States. For more information on Howard University, visit www.howard.edu.