Two-time Super Bowl Champion MALCOLM JENKINS and The Malcolm Jenkins Foundation joined College Track leadership and students in celebration of college and high school seniors continuing on to a four-year college and awarded 22 high school seniors as Malcolm Jenkins Scholars
Today, two-time Super Bowl Champion and former New Orleans Saints Safety MALCOLM JENKINS and Gwendolyn V. Jenkins, President and CEO of The Malcolm Jenkins Foundation (TMJF) awarded scholarships for the tenth consecutive year to its eleventh cohort of graduating high school seniors who participated in the Foundation’s ongoing Project R.E.W.A.R.D.S. program (Reinforcing Education With Activities, Recreation and Developmental Supports) in partnership with College Track New Orleans.
After two years of virtual celebrations, Malcolm and Gwendolyn Jenkins participated in the annual event at the Pavillion of Two Sisters, as TMJF recognized 22 students as Malcolm Jenkins Scholars, each receiving a one-time scholarship in the amount of $1,500 for a total of $33,000 to assist students with ancillary costs they may not have anticipated in their first year of college such as laptops and books. This year, 68% of scholarship winners (15 of 22) will be first generation college students.
In total, TMJF has surpassed $208,000 in scholarships in its 10-year partnership with College Track, awarding 145 New Orleans high school students in addition to funding out-of-state college tours, career exposure events, job networking workshops and supporting matriculating college freshmen with final exam study baskets. TMJF designed Project R.E.W.A.R.D.S. and the Malcolm Jenkins Scholars to deliver progressive rewards to New Orleans students in under-resourced communities to prepare students for college through essential life skills.
“As we celebrate our 10-year graduating cohort with College Track, there are students I’ve personally kept in touch with and to see them graduate from high school and/or college despite the various obstacles they’ve been dealt with, is very special to me personally. I’m incredibly proud of their tenacity and honored that I could participate in their success,” said Malcolm Jenkins, Founder and Chairman of The Malcolm Jenkins Foundation.
Former New Orleans Saints safety Malcolm Jenkins working on second act in retirement.
In 2008, College Track expanded to New Orleans with an inaugural class of 50 freshmen. Today, College Track New Orleans is the largest college completion program in the city with 563 total high school, college, and alumni served. This year, 100% of the program’s high school seniors will matriculate to a four-year college. Since 2012, the TMJF partnership has worked to increase high school graduation rates, college eligibility, enrollment and completion.
“For the past decade, we are proud of our partnership with College Track which has given us the opportunity to support these exceptional students on their journey by furthering their education at the college and university level. In addition to scholarships, The Malcolm Jenkins Scholars have been granted access to resources such as virtual and in-person college campus visits, care packages during their finals, as well as internship opportunities to help them throughout their collegiate experience,” said President and CEO of TMJF, Gwendolyn V. Jenkins.
TMJF continues to fulfill its commitment to making a positive impact in the lives of youth. In the past two years, the Foundation launched a new initiative for digital education and financial literacy. TMJF Digital Education Academy is a digital tool to engage youth in culturally relevant skills and learning as an extension of TMJF’s hands-on initiatives. As part of its continuous efforts and long-term commitment to empowering youth to own their future and set them on a path of financial freedom, the Foundation announced a commitment in 2021 to open 1,000 savings accounts for students in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Ohio and Louisiana.
