Former Morehouse student Bryce Thompson, 24, recently awarded $100,000 in scholarships to 10 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) students to kick off Black History Month.
The scholarship winners are Jalen Robinson (Morehouse), Tate Toole (Morehouse), Robert Pinkney (Morehouse), Je’Von James Tone (Texas Southern University), Miles Smith (Bethune-Cooke University), Kaleb Perkins (Livingstone College), Daisha Green (Philander Smith College), Taylor Helton (Prairie View A&M University), Ms. Jordan James (Hampton University) and Lindsay Collins (Howard University).
“I am a testament to how giving back can change the trajectory of one’s life,” Thompson said. “If it were not for my uncle’s generosity, I wouldn’t have been able to attend Morehouse and develop a network of like-minded individuals who would go on to become my business partners. Investing in my community will always be one of the smartest, most valuable business decisions I’ll ever make.”
Thompson is the co-founder of TradeHouse Investment Group, a multi-million dollar company designed to teach financial literacy through investment strategies and to provide a platform that offers economic and social advancement to traditionally disenfranchised communities.
He started the business with his older brother Brander and fellow Morehouse College students Nathan Samuel, Reynaldo Perez, Joshua Stewart, and Ian Jackson.
The scholarships are powered by Thompsons’ IAMS Foundation and supported by the Scholly app, the scholarship search launched last fall with the mission of helping ease the financial burden of college tuition amid the negative impacts of a global pandemic, racial violence, and skyrocketing unemployment.
Scholly, based in Philadelphia, PA, was founded in 2014 by Christopher Gray who won 1.3 million in scholarships. The app gives high school students, current college students, and graduate students a fast and simple way to find scholarships for college.
After receiving hundreds of applications, 10 students were selected and awarded their scholarships with a surprise hometown visit by Thompson himself.
“I know what it feels like to not know whether you’re going to be able to register for the next semester. So, to now be in a position to ensure that at least 10 students will be able further their education is an incredible blessing and honor,” Thompson said.
