Best-selling author James Patterson creates scholarships for new writers at Howard
WASHINGTON – Best-selling author James Patterson partners with Howard University to encourage and support new authors with a $120,000 fund from the Patterson Family Foundation for scholarships for beginning writers.
Under the James Patterson Writer Education Scholarship Program12 full-time Howard University students will be selected to receive scholarships of $10,000 each towards tuition and fees for the next academic year.
“I am thrilled to support a new program at Howard University and fund scholarships that encourage writing careers for young people,” Patterson said. “I have long been a champion of fellow authors and aspiring writers everywhere, and I hope these scholarships will allow even more students to focus on publishing their work.”
Howard University has long been an incubator for fiction and non-fiction writers. “We are grateful to James Patterson for wanting to find new literary talent here at Howard. Paul Lawrence Dunbar, Zora Neale Hurston, Toni Morrison and Ta-Nehisi Coates are just a few of the great writers who have developed their voices at Howard University, and we’re excited to work with Mr. Patterson to produce more,” said David BennettSenior Vice President of Development and Alumni Relations.
The 12 recipients are to be selected by the James Patterson Scholarship Committee, which is to be appointed by Howard University President Wayne AI Frederick, Provost Anthony K. Wutoh or their designees. The scholarship committee will be responsible for publicizing the program.
All scholarship recipients must be full-time students, either freshmen who intend to become writers, or first-year graduate students who will be writers or writing teachers. Priority will be given to students with financial need. The committee will have the discretion to select other students if there are not enough in the applicant pool.
The single price should only be applied to tuition and fees. The Patterson Family Foundation will evaluate the program during the year. The foundation intends and wishes that the scholarships be funded each academic year and renewed for each student as they progress towards graduation, if they remain in good standing and continue to meet the criteria from the program.
About Howard University
Founded in 1867, Howard University is a private research university comprised of 14 schools and colleges. Students follow more than 140 study programs leading to undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University operates with a commitment to excellence in truth and service and has produced one Schwarzman Scholars, three Marshall Scholars, four Rhodes Scholars, 12 Truman Scholars, 25 Pickering Scholars, and more than 165 Fulbright recipients. Howard is also producing more African-American doctorates on campus. recipients than any other university in the United States. For more information on Howard University, visit www.howard.edu.
About James Patterson
James Patterson is the author of over 200 novels, including the Alex Cross, Maximum Ride, Michael Bennett, Middle School, Ali Cross and Women’s Murder Club series. He has written over 300 books, including collaborations with Dolly Parton and former President Bill Clinton. Many of Paterson’s works have been adapted into films and television shows. He is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the highest-earning author in the world and the first to sell over a million e-books.
Media contact: Misha Cornelius; misha.cornelius@howard.edu
