About The Scholarship

The Black Midwest Initiative established the David C. Smith Memorial Scholarship Fund to honor the life of David Cornelius Smith, a twenty-eight-year-old black man who was killed in an altercation with two officers from the Minneapolis Police Department in September 2010. Born and raised in Peoria, Illinois, David lived in the Twin Cities for more than ten years prior to his death. There, he cultivated his love of the arts and was a lifelong learner who took classes at Minneapolis Community and Technical College.

Eligibility

In the inaugural application cycle, two $500 Smith Scholarships were awarded to students who have demonstrated a commitment to working toward social justice for black people and communities and who began attending community college in the Midwest during the 2021-22 academic year.

Past recipients

TamaraQueen Ervin

TamaraQueen Ervin will be attending Minneapolis Community and Technical College in the Fall of 2021 to study pre-social work. As a survivor of domestic violence, TamaraQueen wants to pursue a career in helping youth and women.

Kenny Moore

Kenny Moore will be attending Minneapolis Community and Technical College in the Fall of 2021 to finish a degree in Liberal Arts. With experience in outreach at the Pillsbury Community Center, Kenny seeks to develop his own outreach program to help positively develop a better community in his neighborhood.