MOBILE, Ala., February 5, 2025 – Bishop State Community College is thrilled to announce two of its students have been awarded the prestigious Cal & Annette Johnson HBCC Scholarship at the inaugural Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) Workforce Development Summit in Birmingham, Alabama. Kayla Andrews and Trenice Paige each received a $15,000 scholarship — the maximum amount awarded — providing significant financial support for their 2024-2025 academic year.
The scholarship announcement came as a surprise to both recipients, recognizing their hard work, perseverance, and academic achievements. Trenice Paige, a single mother of five and full-time student, expressed her gratitude for the scholarship and its impact on her educational journey. “It helps lighten the financial burden of pursuing my education while balancing my responsibilities as a single mom of five and a full-time student,” Paige shared. “My journey hasn’t always been easy, but I am determined to succeed and show my children that resilience and hard work pay off.”
The TMCF Workforce Development Summit introduced students to a variety of industry partners and showcased the evolving skills required to succeed in today’s workforce. The event provided students with the opportunity to connect with potential employers and learn about the demands and opportunities of the modern job market.
Bishop State President Olivier Charles celebrated the students' achievements.
“We are so excited for our students! We are honored to be a historically Black community college right here in Mobile, Alabama, with the ability to transform the lives of our students and expose them to opportunities throughout the world that they otherwise may not get to experience. We are incredibly proud of Kayla and Trenice for earning the prestigious $15,000 Cal & Annette Johnson HBCC Scholarship. Their dedication and determination reflect the values we uphold at Bishop State, and we are honored to see their accomplishments recognized on such a significant platform.”
"I thoroughly enjoyed serving as a chaperone for our Bishop State Community College students at the inaugural Thurgood Marshall College Fund Workforce Summit," said Dr. Carl Cunningham, Dean of Students. "This event represented a pivotal opportunity to empower and equip the next generation of leaders, providing them with the tools, insights, and connections to succeed in today's rapidly evolving workforce."
Donjoli Rowser is an advisor at Bishop State and is the TMCF Liaison. She shared how proud she was of our students.
"During the workforce summit, valuable information was projected onto the students, along with priceless tools to prepare them for the workforce," said Rowser. "We are so very proud of our Cal and Annette Johnson HBCC Scholarship recipients Trenice and Kayla. All of our students were very excited to be a part of this wonderful opportunity, and it put a smile on our faces to see the smiles and excitement on their faces!"
The Cal & Annette Johnson HBCC Scholarship is awarded to students attending historically Black community colleges, providing crucial financial assistance to help them continue their academic pursuits. For more information about the Thurgood Marshall College Fund and the Workforce Development Summit, please visit https://www.tmcf.org/.
About Bishop State Community College
Bishop State Community College is a state-supported, open-admission, urban community college dedicated to serving the residents of Mobile and Washington counties in southwest Alabama. The College provides accessible, affordable, quality education and training to enrich the lives of individuals and enhance the economic development of the community.
# # #