Karen Randall McClain Memorial Scholarship
Karen Randall McClain was a beloved mother, daughter, godmother, and aunt who tragically passed away due to a ruptured brain aneurysm on October 31st, 2023.
Karen went to Tuskegee University and was a proud alum that loved her university so much, that she joined the Greater Pittsburgh Tuskegee Alumni Club.
This scholarship seeks to honor the life of Karen Randall McClain by supporting students attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Karen was educated in the Pittsburgh Public School System, graduating from Peabody High School class of 1978. After graduation, she attended Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) for one year before transferring to Tuskegee Institute (Tuskegee University) where in 1983, she received her Bachelors degree in Business Administration. Karen was employed by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Auditor General Department as an Auditor for 30+ years.
Any African American undergraduate sophomore or upperclassman at an HBCU may apply for this scholarship opportunity if they graduated from a Pittsburgh Public High School: Allderdice High School, Brashear High School, Carrick High School, Milliones 6-12 (University Prep), Obama 6-12 (Barack Obama Academy of International Studies), Perry High School, Westinghouse Academy 6-12, or SciTech 6-12 (Pittsburgh Science and Technology Academy).
To apply, tell us why you chose to attend an HBCU and what your goals are for the future. Additionally, upload a picture of yourself wearing university memorabilia.
Why did you choose to attend an HBCU? What are your future goals?
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FAQ
The application deadline is Nov 15, 2025. Winners will be announced on Dec 15, 2025.
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Award amounts per winner are designated by the donor. Check the award amount for a detailed breakdown.
The winner will be publicly announced on Dec 15, 2025. Prior to the announcement date, we may contact finalists with additional questions about their application. We will work with donors to review all applications according to the scholarship criteria. Winners will be chosen based on the merit of their application.
Award checks will be sent to the financial aid office of the winner's academic institution in their name to be applied to their tuition, and in the name of their institution (depending on the school's requirements). If the award is for a qualified educational non-tuition expense, we will work with the winner directly to distribute the award and make sure it goes towards qualified expenses.
Before we award the scholarship, the winner will be required to confirm their academic enrollment status. Depending on the circumstances, verification of Student ID and/or their most recent transcript will be required.
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Yes. The terms and conditions for this scholarship can be found here.