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School News | Tuesday, February 09, 2021

St. Thomas U. professor creates scholarship fund for Black students

Justin Peart is a professor in St. Thomas University's College of Business and director of the Institute for Global Entrepreneurship. He is spearheading a campaign to create a Black Heritage Scholarship Fund to specifically benefit a black male and black female student in need of tuition assistance each year.

Photographer: COURTESY

Justin Peart is a professor in St. Thomas University's College of Business and director of the Institute for Global Entrepreneurship. He is spearheading a campaign to create a Black Heritage Scholarship Fund to specifically benefit a black male and black female student in need of tuition assistance each year.

MIAMI GARDENS | In honor of Black History Month, a St. Thomas University professor is spearheading a campaign to create a Black Heritage Scholarship Fund to benefit a Black male and Black female student in need of tuition assistance each year.

Justin Peart, a College of Business professor and director of the Institute for Global Entrepreneurship, said many of the university’s students come from low-income and poverty-level socio-economic families.

“It is very difficult to see students struggle with worry that they may not be able to complete their courses simply because there is not enough financial aid to go around,” Peart said.

The Black Heritage Scholarship Fund is being created to help give economically disadvantaged Black students extra funding to pay for tuition, books and other educational necessities.

Peart personally understands the heavy financial burden carried by students of limited economic means. When he moved from Jamaica to the United States in the early 1990s to pursue an advanced university education, he had very little money and felt his dream of achieving a master’s degree slipping away. Still, he put all of his efforts into his studies and university programs and participated in student government as a graduate student representative. Through these endeavors, he met the Graduate Dean and ultimately shared his story of financial challenges. Impressed with his persistence to succeed against all odds, and his willingness to get involved and represent the needs of graduate students, the dean waived 90% of Peart’s tuition for one year.  

“I don't know if I would have been able to make it otherwise. I thanked the dean and I thanked God. I was in shock because I did not expect such grand assistance. Now, it is my turn to do what is necessary to pay the kindness forward by creating this important scholarship fund,” Peart said.   

The St. Thomas University Black Heritage Scholarship Fund will provide opportunities for alumni to “pay it forward” while honoring someone who helped them move ahead during a time of financial struggle. The scholarship will be awarded for the first time in the Fall 2021 semester. Scholarship awards will be based on financial hardship and other criteria currently being developed.

“Martin Luther King Jr. once said, ‘Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: What are you doing for others?’”, said St. Thomas University President David. A. Armstrong. “Dr. Peart’s initiative exemplifies this spirit and represents the fundamental commitment of St. Thomas University to do what we can to ensure the academic and professional success of our students. I applaud Dr. Peart on his idea to create the Black Heritage Scholarship Fund, which will give other donors opportunities to honor the people who helped them by providing financial support to students in need.”  

To donate today, visit www.stu.edu/givenow and select “Black Heritage Scholarship Fund” from the Giving Options menu.

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