Bullock announces renamed PLBC scholarship, application period

Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus    March 8, 2021 | 4:16 PM

HARRISBURG, March 8 – State Rep. and PLBC Chair Donna Bullock, D-Phila., this week announced that the newly renamed James R. Roebuck Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus scholarship application period is now open.

The $1,000 scholarships will be awarded to Pennsylvania residents who meet the following criteria:

  • Be a person of color.
  • Be a graduating high school senior or current undergrad at a college or university.
  • Plan to enroll/return in full-time undergraduate study at an accredited two- or four-year college or university for the entire upcoming academic year.
  • Attend the scholarship awards presentation in Harrisburg.
  • Complete the online application.

Deadline to apply is April 30 and only the first 100 applicants will be processed. Go to https://www.pahouse.com/PLBC to apply online and for more information.

“Students are selected based on their academic success, leadership, extracurricular activities, community participation and financial need,” Bullock said. “These students excel in the classroom and will be the future leaders we want in business, education, medicine and our communities. This is our opportunity to assist them in achieving their goals, in particular helping with the exorbitant costs associated with college.”

This year’s scholarship was renamed the James R. Roebuck Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus Scholarship after former state Rep. Jim Roebuck of Philadelphia. He is a former chairman of the House Education Committee and former member of the PLBC who represented the 188th Legislative District in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1985-2020.

“Chairman Roebuck is the only PLBC member to serve as chair of the House Education Committee and dedicated his 35 years of public service to quality education for Black and brown children across the Commonwealth,” Bullock said.

“I am very pleased that the PLBC has recognized my work as a legislator and educator and am truly grateful for this honor,” Roebuck said. “My background is education, and it is very much a part of my life. I worked for more years than I can count teaching history at Drexel and my late wife was an elementary education music teacher, as well. I believe this scholarship is an incentive to encourage young people to do their best and then is an opportunity for us to recognize their good work.” 

“I’m so glad that this scholarship has been named after former Representative Jim Roebuck, who fought for education for years,” said House Democratic Whip and state Rep. Jordan Harris, D-Phila., who is also a PLBC member. “This is a tremendous opportunity for students to access a quality higher education as their elevator out of poverty and I know Chairwoman Bullock will guide the program to provide help to the students who need it the most.”