Academic Scholarships

Education is a cornerstone for success. As the Foundation evolves, academic scholarships are an excellent way to assist bright, young scholars in reaching their dreams to attain higher education. Even for those who have been awarded financial aid, the funds are not distributed until after the school session has begun which can make it it difficult for some to purchase school supplies and dorm furnishings in preparing for campus life.

The Bessie Morris Foundation Academic Scholarship Program was launched by the generous donation of National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives Southern California Chapter. In March 2022, Ivory Freeman, a probation officer and founder of Bessie Morris, was recognized with the Community Award for her work with the Bessie Morris Foundation. She was bestowed the NOBLE So CA Chapter Awards Foundation Reddick Scholarship.

"We are so honored to partner with Southern California Chapter NOBLE to identify scholarship candidates who are both worthy and have financial need for assistance while pursuing higher education. Thank you so much for this opportunity and for your continuous commitment to the community," said Ivory Freeman.

The Bessie Morris Foundation is pleased to announce academic scholarships applications are now open through May 12, 2024 for the 2024-2025 school year.

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The four inaugural Reddick scholarships were awarded in 2022 to Janis-Joey King-Synagogue who will be attending California State University, Chico; Brielle Terry who will be attending Mount Saint Mary's University Los Angeles; Noella Bih who will be attending medical school at American University of Antiqua; and Jaelyn Garrard who will be a Computer Science junior at California State University, Long Beach this fall.

The Foundation intends to identify other scholarship sources to reach more deserving students in the future.

Check out our resources to other scholarship and academic resources here.

INSPIRATION OF A TRAILBLAZER

Roberta Reddick, for whom the Mom and Pop Reddick Scholarship was co-named, was an extraordinary trailblazer for African American women in law enforcement.

She began her career with the Los Angeles Police Department in 1947 when there were less than ten black women in the department. She was a "first" in many law enforcement roles during her thirty-year career. Roberta was an inspiration for many aspiring black women.

Read this Los Angeles Sentinel article about Roberta and watch her memorial video to learn more about this great woman.