The Juanita A. Portlock Memorial Scholarship Fund is dedicated to helping students and start-up entrepreneurs to excel academically, thrive in business and to assist with their financial obligations. Applicants must complete studies or conduct business in one of the following areas:

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o Cosmetology/Barbering

o Culinary Arts
o Event Planning

o Fashion Design
o Hospitality Management

o Interior Design

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Our goals are to assist deserving students and entrepreneurs, fulfill purpose in their lives, achieve their career goals, pursue their passion, and better serve their community and the world.

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REQUIREMENTS

Students

• Must be a graduating high school senior (Class of 2023) or a current college student

• Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5

• Must be admitted and plan to attend an accredited college or university or currently attending.

•  Official High School or College Transcript (Must be mailed and sealed)

• Letters of Recommendation (2 letters are required) Letters may be from an administrator or teacher/professor at your school, community organization, or mentor who is 18 years of age or older.

• Letter of acceptance from a higher learning institution.

• Letter of intent from a higher learning institution or proof of enrollment (Must be provided before scholarship is awarded).

• Scholarship will be awarded on August 24, 2023 at the Annual Scholarship Fundraising Tea & Dinner.

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Entrepreneurs

• Must be a small business grossing less than $50,000.00 annually in sales;  in business less than three years and who did not start their business prior to August 1, 2020.

• Entrepreneurs must submit proof of gross earnings which do not exceed $50,000 as reflected in submitted tax returns.

• Letters of Recommendations (2 letters are required). Letters may be from a client, vendor, banker or a mentor who is 18 years of age or older.

• Business stipend will be awarded on August 24, 2023 at the Annual Scholarship Fundraising Tea and Dinner.

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All Applicants

• Typed Essay (Min. 500/Max. 1,000) Essay Topic: Reginald F. Lewis was an American businessman. He was one of the richest Black American men in the 1980s, and the first Black American to build a billion-dollar company, TLC Beatrice International Holdings Inc. a snack food, beverage, and grocery store conglomerate that was the largest Black owned and managed business in the U.S. Mr. Lewis is famously quoted as saying "Keep Going to Build a Better Society...To be a compassionate America...Keep Going No Matter What! What factors drive you in the pursuit of your entrepreneurial dreams and why? 

• Submit application and all attachments by April 24, 2023 no later than 11:59pm (Typed application preferred, if handwritten please write legibly)

• Awardees must be present at the event on August 24, 2023 to accept their award or submit a 2 minute video to be presented at the event.