Pistons Legend Rick Mahorn and the Detroit Pistons Foundation will host high school seniors from several Detroit schools to participate in competition at Detroit Institute of Arts for over $110,000 in scholarships
Scholarship event reaches $1 million mark over 20-year history
DETROIT – The Detroit Pistons Foundation and former Pistons “Bad Boy” Rick Mahorn will host the 20th annual Black History Month Scholarship Event on Tuesday, Feb. 4 at the Detroit Institute of Arts. The event, which will be held from 11 a.m.-1 p.m., will see seniors from various Detroit high schools participating in a slam poetry competition and a poster contest for the chance to win over $110,000 in scholarships bringing the scholarship total for the scholarship event to $1 million over its 20-year history.
This year’s theme is “Legacy in Action: Honoring the Past, Inspiring the Future” and requires competitors to showcase the theme in front of a panel of judges comprised of Detroit community leaders and notable figures. The grand prize winner will be named the Earl Lloyd Award recipient and will receive a $25,000 scholarship. The student that finishes in second place will receive a $20,000 scholarship in partnership with Priority Health, third place will receive a $10,000 scholarship in partnership with United Dairy Industry of Michigan and fourth place will earn a $5,000 scholarship in partnership with Oakland University.
In addition to Tuesday’s slam poetry competition, the Black History Month Scholarship Event will feature a poster contest where students will design a poster tied to this year’s theme. The first-place winner of the poster contest will receive the Earl Cureton Award, a $20,000 scholarship in partnership with Huntington Bank, second place will be given a $15,000 scholarship in partnership with the Children’s Foundation and third place will receive a $10,000 scholarship in partnership with Stackwell. New this year, all submitted posters will be displayed at Little Caesars Arena at the Pistons home contest on Feb. 2, giving fans a chance to vote on their favorite design during Power Hour. The poster that receives the most votes during the game on the 2nd, through social media and in-person at the scholarship competition event will receive the “People’s Choice Award,” a $6,750 scholarship.
The Black History Month scholarship event began as the “Know Your Black History Tour” in 2005. Mahorn traveled to schools to educate youth on the importance of Black History then students would compete for a $1,000 scholarship. The event expanded to a scholarship competition in 2009 at the Henry Ford Museum and has awarded scholarships to over 100 students which will total $1 million after this year’s competition over its 20-year history.
WHAT: The Detroit Pistons 20th annual Black History Month Scholarship Event with Pistons Legend Rick Mahorn
WHEN: Tuesday, Feb. 4 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
WHERE: Detroit Institute of Arts, 5200 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48202
WHO: High school seniors from participating Detroit area high schools including:
- Cass Technical High School
- Central High School
- Communication & Media Arts High School
- Detroit Loyola High School
- Detroit King High School
- Detroit School of Arts
- Jalen Rose Leadership Academy
- Marygrove High School
- Northwestern High School
- University Prep High School
Judges for the Black History Month Scholarship Event Include:
- Melanie Harris, Detroit Pistons President of Business Operations
- Dwane Casey, Detroit Pistons Front Office Associate
- Diop Russell, Former Detroit Pistons Black History Month Scholarship Winner
- Liz Lewin, FOX 2 Reporter
- Shannon Wilson, Priority Health Vice President, Population Health & Health Equity
- Aaron Scott, United Dairy Industry of Michigan Community Transformation Manager
- Chase Burton, Stackwell Growth Marketing Analyst
- Kelly Brittain, The Children’s Foundation Vice President of Impact
- Yolanda Small, Huntington Bank Treasury Management Area Sales Manager
- Katie Hartsock, Oakland University Associate Professor of English
Pistons partners including the Children’s Foundation, Huntington Bank, Oakland University, Priority Health, Stackwell and United Dairy Industry of Michigan
