Coco Scholars
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Every year Coco offers scholarships to support the development of Black college women in Health, Civic Engagement, and the Arts. The inspiration behind these subject matters is from our parents who were passionate in these areas. Below are the 2025 recipients:
Eriona Birts
Eriona Birts is a sophomore at Bard College majoring in Psychology on the pre-medical track, aspires to become a psychiatrist dedicated to reducing racial disparities in mental health care. A former Youth Poet Laureate of Baltimore, she uses spoken word and poetry to spark conversations around trauma, healing, and racial inequities. On campus, she founded the Spoken Word Organization and leads both the Black Student Organization and the Mental Health Club, creating spaces where creativity, wellness, and community intersect. Eriona plans to pursue medical school, blending research, advocacy, and art to reimagine mental health care for the Black community.
Myia Williams
Myia Williams is a student at the University of Phoenix and West Los Angeles College, studying Psychology with a focus in Media and Technology and Environmental Science. She is completing an internship at Black Women For Wellness as an Environmental and Beauty Justice Intern and also serves as a Climate Action and Environmental Justice Fellow at West Los Angeles College, as well as a Climate Intern at UNITE-LA. With a passion for environmentalism shaped by volunteer work with TreePeople and Keep America Beautiful, Myia also maintains a creative outlet through drawing and blogging about art and social issues. She is honored to receive the 2025 Byron + Lolita Scholarship, which will support the completion of her programs and attendance at graduate school in Spring 2026.
Camille Johnson
Camille Johnson is a Jonesboro, Georgia native and a third-year Strategic Communications major at Hampton University with a focus in marketing. A creative and dependable leader, she’s passionate about producing art that celebrates cultural diversity.
Her accomplishments include being named the Franklin Armstrong Endowment Recipient for her animated piece created in partnership with the historic Peanuts company and the NAACP, interning with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and publishing an HBCU coloring book. Guided by Jillian Michaels’ words, “It’s not about perfect. It’s about effort,” Camille continues to pursue her goal of designing animations and graphics for major entertainment and advertising companies.
Below are the individual scholarship requirements and details. We are so proud of our scholarship recipients, click here to learn more about our past recipients.
Coco’s Mental/Holistic Health Advancement Scholarship is for 3rd-year students with a declared major in the human or social sciences, who plan to enter the mental health field. The A.H. Scholarship is named in honor of Angela Barbara Heath, mother of co-founder Tiffany Wright. Angela passed August 8th, 2018 from a pulmonary embolism, however, she was a complex trauma survivor and advocate of mental health awareness. As a parent with multiple mental illnesses, Angela was very vocal about the importance of therapy and holistic healing approaches. Eligible majors for this scholarship include psychology, sociology, social work, biological sciences, human development, and other related fields. Students must have a minimum of 60-semester units completed.
Coco's Civic Engagement Scholarship is for a 4-year college student with a declared major in civic engagement or public policy. Inspired by the parents of cofounder Jasmine McGee, Byron Thompson, and Lolita Hancock. The B.L Scholarship was created to support students interested in civil service and community engagement. Jasmine’s mother was a legal secretary and her father was a lawyer. Both of her parents were passionate about creating change in their community and providing support for personal development and growth. Eligible education majors for this scholarship include administration of justice, political science, public administration, civil rights, ethnic studies, sociology, and other related fields.
Coco's Art Scholarship is inspired by the father of co-founder Mimo Haile, Dereje Haile. This scholarship was created to support students who are interested in all of the art medium. Dereje was a fun-loving father who loved photography, music, and dancing. His favorite thing to do were to collect photographs from family gatherings and birthday celebration, which Mimo has inherited. There are more than 10 albums of pictures he has taken that tell a family history and powerful stories that depict a completely different light to the Ethiopian culture that’s broadcasted in the mainstream. This is a scholarship for a 4-year college student with majors in drawing, painting, photography, and graphic design. And can also include the art of the culinary, musical, and literary varieties.
Eligibility
Successful applicants will:
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be a womxn of the African Diaspora
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complete a scholarship application
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possess a minimum GPA of 3.0 and be in good standing
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be enrolled in a US-based college or university as an undergraduate student.
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display a financial need based on student FAFSA expected family contribution (EFC) and college's cost of attendance
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Scholarship recipients will be required to submit:
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proof of enrollment in a US-based college or university
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official transcript
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student aid report from FAFSA
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professional photo and video for promotional use
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** Please check individual scholarships for year standing requirements
FAQ
How much is each scholarship award?
$1000
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Who are the scholarships for?
Undergraduate students. We do not currently offer graduate scholarships.
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I just submitted my scholarship application, what is the next step in the process?
Final candidates will be contacted for a personal interview with the scholarship committee.
How will I be contacted or notified about scholarship updates?
All applicants and finalists will be notified by email.
Can high school and community college students apply for scholarships?
At this time, the Coco scholarships are available for college students only.
Application dates and deadlines
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June 1 —The application process opens.
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June 30 —Deadline for student applications.
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August 31 — Recipients announced.
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How do the recipients receive their award payments?
Scholarship checks are mailed to applicants’ home addresses in October.
Is the scholarship renewable?
No, this is a one-time award.
Can I apply for multiple scholarships?
No, students must select a scholarship that is most aligned with their major and career goals.
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Can I get involved with Coco if I don't receive a scholarship?
Yes. We open opportunities for internships and volunteering.