Scholarship Winner Karrington Bourgeois-Wilkins

Norfolk State University

Tell the powerful stories of tens of thousands disenfranchised people in America, earn my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Mass Communications, become a host of a primetime show on CNN. What do these three things have in common? They are my aspirations for my future.

Journalism has always had a special place in my heart, and growing up in an underprivileged community has exposed me to countless untold stories. It is essential that we provide the underprivileged community with a voice in the media, not only to highlight our struggles, but also our successes and triumphs.

Despite women being well-represented in the media, the same cannot be said for African Americans, of which only 6.3% of news reporters are Black, highlighting the need for greater diversity in this field. As the world evolves, the demand for news increases, and we need more Black voices to tell these stories from our unique perspectives. As a future member of that 6.3%, I am determined to inspire and motivate young Black children to observe their surroundings and bring about the changes they want to see in their communities.

I firmly believe that everyone has a story to tell, and it's my responsibility to seek out and share those stories with the world. I aspire to be a beacon of hope for those who feel their voices are unheard and empower them to stand up and make themselves heard. "Never separate the life you live from the words you speak."