Celebrating Woodson’s Warriors: A Legacy of Leadership and Excellence  

Featured image: The Woodson Warriors scholarship program celebrated community and camaraderie at December’s Holiday Mid-Term Luncheon.

Although the Woodson African American Museum of Florida is temporarily closed as renovations continue – doors are expected to reopen later this spring – the museum’s mission has not faltered.

“Through exhibitions, educational programming, community engagement and scholarship initiatives, The Woodson serves as a living repository of Black heritage, honoring the past, illuminating the present, and inspiring future generations,” said Executive Director Terri Lipsey Scott.

One way the museum inspires future generations is through The Woodson Warrior Scholarship, which reflects the mission of the museum itself “to preserve, present, interpret, celebrate, and educate the public about African American history and culture.” 

The scholarship is based on the legacy of Dr. Carter G. Woodson, the “Father of Black History.” The fund started in 2019 as a silent auction of Jane Bunker’s paintings that raised $43,000. That money was used for scholarships ranging from $3,000 to $5,000 awarded to 10 local college-bound scholars, and $250 for books and supplies for seven additional scholars.

Since its founding, 10 to 20 students have been accepted annually to receive funding to aid them through four years of college.

“The Woodson Warrior Scholarship is integral to our mission because education is at the heart of preservation, empowerment, and progress,” Lipsey Scott said. “The scholarship directly advances our commitment to educational excellence by investing in local students who demonstrate academic promise, leadership, and resilience. It is a powerful extension of our belief that history, when paired with opportunity, transforms lives.”

Since 2019, the Warrior program has awarded scholarships to more than 70 scholars, and boasts a 99 percent graduation rate. 

Scholars fields of study have included everything from political science and international affairs to psychology and criminology, medicine, chemical engineering, musical theater, and broadcast journalism.

They have attended Florida State University, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, University of Florida, University of South Florida, University of Miami, St. Pete College, University of Central Florida, University of North Florida and Florida Atlantic University; as well as Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Wellesley College, Barnard College at Columbia, Emerson College, The Boston Conservatory at Berkeley, Savannah State University, Mercer University, Reinhardt University, Howard University, Tuskegee University, North Carolina Central University and University of Maryland.

“Woodson Warrior Scholars embody the mission of the museum through their pursuit of excellence, service, and leadership. As students and professionals in fields such as medicine, law, engineering, marketing, the arts, and education, they serve as living testaments to the transformative power of access and opportunity,” Lipsey Scott said. “Many remain engaged with The Woodson as mentors, ambassadors, and role models, while society benefits from their talents, civic engagement, and commitment to making meaningful contributions locally and globally.” 

Some distinguished Woodson Warrior scholars include Demitrius Williams, a graduate of the University of Miami, currently employed by Sony in marketing; Chan Srinivasa, who graduated with honors from Florida A&M University and is now enrolled at the University of Florida on a full scholarship in law; Lauryn Latimer, a three-year graduate of the University of South Florida, who earned a master’s degree in Speech Pathology and is now professionally serving in St. Petersburg; and Carlos Walker, a graduate of Mercer University, currently pursuing graduate studies at The Juilliard School. In 2022, Carlos made his international debut at the Rome Chamber Music Festival, performing at Teatro Argentina in Rome, and earned first place in the American Viola Society Collegiate Solo Competition. 

“[T]he Woodson Warrior Scholarship program remains a source of immense pride for our institution,” said Lipsey Scott. “The investments made through this program not only enhance academic success but also alleviate unnecessary financial stress for students and their families. We are proud of those who wear the Woodson shield of excellence and who are actively shaping a stronger, more equitable nation, one scholar at a time.”

To celebrate their achievements, each year the museum, along with Woodson Warrior Scholarship founders Jane Bunker and Mason Morfitt, hold an annual luncheon and check-in during the winter holidays so that the founders, donors, staff, scholars, and families can connect and reflect. Then each spring, the Woodson Warrior Scholarship Luncheon celebrates the current year’s college graduates and welcomes the new class of graduating seniors into the program. 

“Camaraderie is one of the program’s most meaningful outcomes,” Lipsey Scott said. “Many scholars attend the same institutions, both near and far, and form a close-knit, extended family. They provide one another with encouragement, accountability, moral support, and shared experiences that foster personal growth, confidence, and lifelong bonds.”

Applicants must have a minimum 3.0 GPA, live in St. Petersburg, and be graduating high school. Apply online, and any finalists will be granted an in-person interview. The scholarship deadline is April 5. 

Information on how to apply, or to donate to the scholarship fund, visit woodsonmuseum.org/support/woodson-warrior-scholarship. More information is available at bunkerscholarshipauction.com.