Tajia M. Perry Memorial Scholarship
Tajia M. Perry was born on January 21, 1998, in Denver, Colorado, with so much stacked against her. Born prematurely and physically underdeveloped, medical professionals cautioned that she might never walk, might struggle to communicate, and would likely face lifelong learning difficulties, challenges and limitations.
But Tajia refused to be defined by limitation.
She not only walked, she ran.
She found her voice and used it boldly.
She didn’t just learn, she excelled.
Raised in Houston, Texas, Tajia became a vibrant young woman known for her resilience, humor, faith, and boundless joy. A speech and debate competitor, a Business Management graduate, and the 2022 commencement speaker at Blinn College in Bryan, TX during the height of the pandemic. She persevered even as her health challenges intensified.
Tajia knew firsthand that academic spaces are not always welcoming to those living with disabilities, health challenges, or other extraordinary circumstances. She believed deeply that every child deserves to be seen, supported, and celebrated. Her greatest dream was to become an educator, especially for children with learning disabilities. She fulfilled that calling as an early childhood teacher, pouring encouragement into every student she served.
No matter the challenge, she faced each with courage, perseverance and empathy. In her own words "I just kept swimming."
The Tajia M. Perry Scholarship honors her life by investing in students who embody her spirit of perseverance and purpose. Any African American, female undergraduate student in the Houston, Texas, or Denver, Colorado, area may apply for this scholarship opportunity if she has a learning difference, physical or mental health challenge, or another extraordinary circumstance. This scholarship exists to affirm, support, and uplift students who continue pursuing their education despite the challenges they face. Though Tajia’s time here was shorter than we wished, her impact was immeasurable. She was sunshine, steady, warm, and life-giving. Her laughter was joy in its purest form. Her voice was encouragement.
Through this scholarship, her dream continues.
To apply, write a short essay in response to the prompt below. Additionally, upload a photo of yourself.
Tajia M. Perry lived her life refusing to be defined by limitations. She pursued her education and her purpose with courage, determination, and joy — even while facing significant personal and health challenges.
In no more than 1000 words, please share:
- A personal challenge, learning difference, health condition, or extraordinary circumstance that has shaped your educational journey.
- How you have demonstrated ambition and drive in pursuing your goals.
- The impact you hope to make in your community or future career as a result of your experiences.
Please share only what you feel comfortable disclosing. We value authenticity and reflection, and we respect your privacy. Your story will be reviewed with care and confidentiality.
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FAQ
The application deadline is Dec 19, 2026. Winners will be announced on Jan 20, 2027.
Your privacy is a top priority on the Bold.org platform, and you can find our privacy policy in full here. You may opt out of communications from Bold.org at any time, and unless we’ve first notified you and gotten your consent, you’ll never receive communication from any third parties related to personal information you give us.
Award amounts per winner are designated by the donor. Check the award amount for a detailed breakdown.
The winner will be publicly announced on Jan 20, 2027. 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.
If you have any questions about this scholarship or the Bold.org platform, just email contact@bold.org and we’ll get back to you as quickly as we can.
Yes. The terms and conditions for this scholarship can be found here.
