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Center for African Studies

Quarterman & Keller Foundation, Inc. Social Justice Scholarship Program

Are you an undergraduate student with a major or minor in a program in either the College of Arts & Humanities or the College of Behavioral & Social Sciences? Do you have an interest in Africana Studies, Criminal Justice & Criminology, History, Law & Society, Political Science, Sociology, Women’s Gender & Sexuality or other similar programs? Could you benefit from a $2,500 financial scholarship? Then, this opportunity could be for you!

The Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Center will award a $2,500 financial scholarship to two undergraduate students through the Quarterman & Keller Foundation, Inc. Social Justice Scholarship Program.

Download and complete the application.

Secure two letters of recommendation:

  • A GS faculty member
  • Personal (high school teacher/counselor or adult leader in any capacity)

Submit the application and letters of recommendation to Dr. Akiv Dawson (adawson@georgiasouthern.edu).

Call for Proposals: Spring 2025

The Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Center will award a $2,500 financial scholarship to two undergraduate students through the Quarterman & Keller Foundation, Inc. Social Justice Scholarship Program. The Quarterman & Keller Foundation, Inc. Social Justice Scholarship Program is an educational initiative that was established by the Reparations Project in 2020. The descendants of an enslaved coastal Georgia family and the descendants of their enslavers founded the program. The program provides financial support to assist with the cost of tuition, research expenses, and additional education costs. It funds student research related to Black education, Black Land Preservation, and Black Art repossession. The Quarterman & Keller Foundation, Inc is committed to the preservation and documentation of Black history and culture. It engages young scholars in social justice engagements and activities supported by the Foundation. Situated in a student’s major discipline and under the advisement of a faculty mentor, scholarship recipients will conduct and present research that offers and creates applicable frameworks to address issues affecting Black/Gullah Geechee communities.  Scholars are selected based on their demonstration of excellence in academic achievement, a demonstrated interest in social issues related to people of African descent and a research idea that seeks to deepen our understanding of a social, historical and/or political dimension of Black peoples’ experiences within the United States.  In the past, Quarterman & Keller Social Justice Scholars at GS have conducted research about Black health as well as different aspects of Gullah-Geechee culture. 

Important Dates

  • Applications are due by Friday, February 21, 2025.
  • Decisions will be made by Friday, February 28, 2025

For more information contact: Dr. Joyce White, Director of the Gullah-Geechee Cultural Heritage Center

Applicant Criteria

To be eligible for the Quarterman and Keller scholarship, students must:

  • Be enrolled at Georgia Southern as an undergraduate student
  • Possess a 2.8 or higher GPA. (Must provide proof of academic eligibility upon request)
  • Either a) major or minor in an approved program within the College of Arts & Humanities or the College of Behavioral & Social Sciences. Areas of study may include, but are not limited to, Africana Studies or Interdisciplinary Studies with a concentration in Africana Studies or b) have other majors provided that the proposed research has a central focus on Black people in the U.S. Additionally, students from outside of the College of Arts & Humanities or the College of Behavioral & Social Sciences MUST also recommend a name of a faculty member in their department or College who will serve as a mentor for the  research project. 
  • Applicants must be willing to complete an 8-week research project that will be guided by a faculty member of their choice. The overarching theme of the project shall be to identify and address ways to create a more equitable and just society – specifically in terms of the challenges faced by people of African descent communities and government.
  • Applicants MUST FOLLOW THE 8-WEEK TIME FRAME and scaffolding.
  • Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods research projects, and creative activities/scholarship are eligible and welcome.
  • Applicants must be willing to present their research to the campus and/or local community during the last week in April.
  • Applicants must provide a report that summarizes the research project and reflects on the experience.

Notes on ineligibility

  • Graduate students, exchange students, and dual enrolled students  ARE NOT eligible.
  • Students SHOULD NOT propose any research that involves more than the minimal risk associated with everyday life.
  • Proposals that are incomplete, do not follow the application guidelines, or are received after the application deadline WILL NOT BE reviewed.

  • Applicants must have two references and have them complete the recommender form:
    • One reference must be a GS faculty member.
    • One reference can be from the applicant’s personal network (high school teacher/counselor or adult leader in any capacity).

The scholarship application has 9 sections. 

  1. Applicant Background Information
  2. Applicant’s Demographic Information
  3. Applicant’s Academic Information
  4. Applicant’s Leadership, Campus Involvement, Service, and Awards
  5. Applicant’s References
  6. Research Proposal Narrative
  7. Project Deliverables Information
  8. Faculty Mentor Information
  9. Additional comments for the Scholarship Committee

Research Proposal Narrative

The most important part of the application is the research proposal narrative. It is the section in which the applicant should address key details about the project they are proposing for the scholarship. There are 4 sections to the proposal narrative. See below.

  1. Introduction and Background Information (5-8 sentences)
    • This section of the narrative should provide background information about the social problem or  issue within Black and/or Gullah Geechee communities that you propose to address in your research project.   
    • This section of the narrative should also describe the project goals and purpose.  
  2. Appropriateness of the Project for the Program (5-8 sentences)
    • This section of the narrative should  provide a description of the project’s appropriateness for The Quarterman & Keller Foundation, Inc. Social Justice Scholarship Program.
  3. Feasibility & Anticipated timeline for project completion (5-8 sentences)
    • This section of the narrative should describe the intended research design or creative process to be carried out.
    • This section of the narrative should describe the feasibility of completing the project. This should include a timeline for the project that incorporates the 8-week scaffolding. 
  4. Broader Impacts of the Project ((5-8 sentences)
    • Discuss the potential broader impact of your project could have on  Black/Gullah Geechee communities. 

WeekBEGENDActivity
13/33/7In this module, the scholar should:Give the project a title.Write an introduction and background paragraph about the project that concludes with a research purpose, questions, or thesis.Submit a shell of the title slide and Intro/Background slide(s) of your presentation.Identify any resources that are needed to complete the project.
23/103/14In this module, the scholar should:Identify academic resources related to their topic
33/173/21In this module, the scholar should:Write up a paragraph or two that describes the projects and summarizes the steps that are followed in the project with special attention paid to what data will be used, and how the data will be collected.Submit a shell of the purpose slide(s) of your presentation.Submit a shell of the data collection slide.Begin data collection
43/243/28In this module, the scholar should:begin data collection for their project.
53/314/4In this module, the scholar should:continue data collection for their project.
64/74/11In this module, the scholar should:continue data collection for their project.
74/144/18In this module, the scholar should:Analyze the data Write a summary of the results.Submit the summary of resultsSubmit shells of results slides
84/214/25In this module, the scholar should:Write a conclusion of the project that (a) addresses the social justice or policy implications of the results; and (b) reflects on the scholar’s experience.Complete a conclusion slideFinalize full presentation/Practice presentation

At the conclusion of the project, awardee(s) must provide

  • A 3 to 5 page written report of their findings to the Director of the Gullah Geechee Heritage Center Dr. Joyce White at joycewhite@georgiasouthern.edu  by the agreed-upon deadline (specified in the proposal) 
  • A presentation of their findings in The Quarterman & Keller Foundation, Inc. Social Justice Scholars forum during the week of April 28th (Exact date to be announced).
  • All reports and presentations should include:
    • Introduction/Background information
    • Existing research
    • Describe the steps undertaken in the research
    • Report the results
    • Consider the broader social justice or policy implications that the project has for Black/Gullah Geechee communities.
    • Reflect on the research experience
  • Proposed projects that involve research with human subjects will need to complete CITI training. Furthermore, a written application to the Institutional Review Board (IRB) must be initiated prior to or concurrently with submission of the application, as applicable. Funded work must not begin until IRB approval is obtained, if applicable.

  • Complete the application using the Quarterman & Keller Foundation, Inc. Social Justice Scholarship Program Application Submission Form. Applicants must use their Georgia Southern Email Account to complete the application.
  • A student may only submit one proposal. Students may edit the form prior to submitting it if they use their GS email address. The form will save responses so that students can submit later. This functionality will operate until applications close. Any applications that are not fully submitted by the due date will not be considered. Students will receive a confirmation and copy of their responses once the due date has passed.