In recognizing the humanity of our fellow beings, we pay ourselves the highest tribute. a quote from Thurgood Marshall, first African American U.S. Supreme Court member

Black Scholars

Black Scholars is a learning community dedicated to our Black students as well as students from the African diaspora. Black Scholars Logo

This learning community is designed to help students gain an enhanced college experience. We are a center of support and assistance to this community and our goal is to help you grow and thrive while attending Glendale Community College. Black Scholars provides academic counseling services, social mixers, and group meetings aimed to encourage peer to peer connections and a sense of belonging here at GCC. TAP cards and other financial supports are also available to help students along their educational journeys while at GCC. Lastly, assistance in career exploration as well as transfer support is available through this learning community to our Black Scholars.

What Black Scholars Offers:

Academic and Career Counseling
Connections to on campus and off campus resources
Social mixers to help make connections and build network
Group meetings that offer opportunities to celebrate culture and ethnicity
Help with transfer
Small bookstore credit to help with books
Book Loan
Technology Loan
Celebrations to acknowledge and recognize goal completion

Black scholars students

Who qualifies?

Students who are Black or African-American
Students enrolled in credit classes
Students who are starting their goal of earning their first college degree; students who have bachelor's degrees or higher do not qualify
A completed Black Scholars application must be submitted for consideration

APPLY NOW

NOTE: If you are already an active student in Black Scholars learning community, you DO NOT need to reapply. If you are unsure about your active status, please email us at selearningcommunities@glendale.edu to inquire verification.

Events & Activities

Meet some of our Black Scholars

Meet Rylee Happy

Rylee Happy

What is a quote you would like to share that is meaningful to you?
“Tread Lightly”

Why did you join Black Scholars?
I joined Black Scholars to try to find financial support and community on campus. Joining Black Scholars allowed me to connect with people that look like me and share my experiences in a college where we are a small minority. I was seeking social engagement as well as assistance in my career path.

What do you like most about being in the Black Scholars Learning Community?
What I like the most about being a part of Black Scholars is being able to celebrate Black joy with other members of my community. I love the social mixers and overall social support and encouragement from counselors. The counselors at student equity made me realize my dream career didn’t have to just remain a dream.

Educational Goals: My educational goals are to receive a Psychology and Sociology AS-T from GCC before transferring to university. I want to ultimately earn my Doctorate in Clinical Psychology to become a trauma therapist.

Meet Nicole Garrett

Nicole Garrett

What is a quote you would like to share that is meaningful to you?
“Great things are happening to us, and through us, even when we don't realize it”.

Why did you join Black Scholars?
I joined Black Scholars to further learn about all the available resources on campus and to feel further connected to the community. Joining Black Scholars has allowed me to flourish financially, academically, emotionally and mentally. In addition to being able to relate and share my experiences with minorities like myself, I was looking for educational opportunities and guidance within my Psychology major.

What do you like most about being in the Black Scholars Learning Community?
What I love the most about being a part of Black Scholars is being connected to amazing inspiring counselors. The student equity counselors encouraged and supported me throughout challenging, unpredictable times, especially during the pandemic. I love being able to celebrate my culture with my community through various activities and social mixers.

Educational Goals: My educational goals are to transfer to CSUN in fall of 2022 with a AA-T in Psychology. I ultimately want to earn a PsyD in Developmental Psychology with an emphasis on adolescent education.

Meet Annette Cluff

Annette Cluff

Why did you join Black Scholars?

I am a College Freshman. I am 61 years young. This is really my first time in college. I am a writer (not published yet). I live in Glendale and have been here for twenty years. There are not a lot of black people here in this beautiful city and so when I decided to come to GCC, I found these two organizations (Black Scholars and Black Student Union) for people like me.

What do you like most about being in the Black Scholars Learning Community?

I've met some wonderful people here at the college. Alexandra Evans has been a guiding light in my academic journey and so have many others. We need spaces like this for minorities and women. I would greatly recommend Black Scholars to my peers. Through this program, I have been able to get help with tutoring, the counselors have assisted me with my IGETC, which I knew nothing about. Also, whenever I'm in doubt about myself, there is always someone available to speak with. I'm grateful for these wonderful programs. I plan on transferring when my time comes and I am certain there will be someone cheering for me when I reach my goals. Thank you for everything!!

Educational Goals:

I am majoring in English and plan to complete my transfer requirements at GCC and transfer to a university.

Let’s Celebrate Culture and Community

Juneteenth
Juneteenth is a US federal holiday celebrating the release of the last African Americans from the shackles of slavery. It takes place on June 19th and dates back to 1865 in Galveston, Texas. Many Black and African American people today celebrate Juneteenth as a reminder of history and as a promise toward a brighter future. It is also a time to embrace our culture and share quality time with each other.

Kwanza
Kwanzaa is a holiday that celebrates community, family and culture and was created to help African American people reconnect with their African roots and heritage. Kwanzaa begins on December 26th and lasts seven days. Each day represents a different principle; unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, creativity, faith in our people and triumph over struggles, and purpose. For each of these seven principles, there are also symbols of Kwanzaa; fruits, vegetables, and nuts, a straw mat, a candleholder, maize, gifts, a communal cup signifying unity, and seven candles in African colors red, green, and black. Each day a candle is lit in the kinara, or candleholder, and the daily principle is discussed.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day honors the life and legacy of Dr. King who was a minister and political activist that helped lead the civil rights movement which fought and advocated for Black and African American equality in the 1960’s. He delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech in 1963 where he verbalized his longing for an end to racism, segregation, and Black suffering on the basis of race.