YUMA TAX SERVICES
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SONINKARA COLLEGE
SCHOLARSHIP
Established to encourage and support the Soninke youth in pursuing higher education and alleviate the financial burden of college expenses.
2025-2026 Academic Year Scholarship
The application deadline for the 2025-2026 scholarship is set for September 12, 2025. Recipients of the award will be announced on September 19, 2025. This year, two students will be selected to receive a scholarship of $1,000 each, which will be allocated between the fall and spring semesters.
To be eligible for this scholarship, applicants must be of Soninke descent and enrolled in an accredited college in the United States. Both undergraduate and graduate students are encouraged to apply.
Applicants are required to submit a copy of their fall semester schedule and college transcripts with their application. If selected, they will need to provide their spring schedule to claim the spring portion of the scholarship.
To be eligible for the scholarship, scholars must be Soninke, enrolled in a college or university, attending both fall and spring semester of the scholarship school year as a full-time student taking at least 12 credit hours.
As part of the application, students must upload the following:
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A current, complete high school or college transcript of grades and Fall Semester Class Schedule.
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Transcript and Schedule must display:
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Student name
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Student ID number
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School name
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At least 12 Credit hours per semester
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Assuming there are qualified applicants, a total of TWO scholarships will be awarded:
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Each scholarship is worth $1,000 and will be given to students who meet the scholarship requirements.
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Students will receive $500 in the Fall and the remaining $500 in the Spring.
Yuma Tax Services will select finalists through a lottery system. Only students who have completed all requirements of the scholarship application will be entered.
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Awards are granted only once; past recipients are not eligible to reapply.
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Scholarship recipients must claim the second portion of their scholarship within one academic year, specifically two semesters after receiving the first portion, or they will forfeit it.
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The scholarship can be used for both undergraduate and graduate studies and may cover any education-related expenses, such as tuition, fees, books, supplies, and required materials.
Payment will be made by the first week of October for the Fall semester and by the third week of February for the Spring semester.
All payments will be paid directly to the school.
Sponsors Recognition
Thank you for making this year's scholarship possible.
Acknowledgment to anonymous individual donors.
Click on a sponsor business to learn more about them
SONINKARA COLLEGE
SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS
East Carolina University
Nursing
Hadja, a first-generation college student and immigrant from Guinea, expressed her gratitude for a scholarship that represents a significant milestone in her academic journey. She has been actively involved in the National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS) and Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society, and has held leadership roles in her school’s African Student Organization and College of Nursing at ECU. As she nears graduation, she looks forward to pursuing a career in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and eventually obtaining a master's degree. Apart from her academic pursuits, she has a passion for learning languages and has proficiency in seven of them. Additionally, she appreciates diverse cultures, music, travel, and relaxation.
Hadja Doukoure
Hunter College
Human Biology
Adama Coulibaly is a human biology major at Hunter College. This fall, she will start her journey as a research associate in the Department of Emergency Medicine at Weill Cornell. She hopes to pursue her passion for research and explore opportunities in the medical field. In her free time, she enjoys crocheting and doing embroidery as a way to unwind. She also cherishes the moments when she gets to visit her family in Mali. Adama looks forward to what the future holds!
Adama Coulibaly
Kennesaw State University
Political Science & International Affairs
Mariama Tunkara is a first-generation Soninke student at Kennesaw State
University with a major in international affairs.
She wants to work in the field of immigration after finishing her undergraduate. Mariam is currently an active member of the KSU Model African Union, KSU Muslim Student Association, and KSU African Student Association. In recognition of maintaining a
4.0 GPA, she was placed on the Kennesaw State's Fall President List. Mariam intends to leave Kennesaw state early due to her dual enrollment credits.
Mariama Tunkara
Hunter College
Pre Med- Biological Sciences
As the eldest daughter in a Soninke household, Mariam Sillah has always carried many expectations and responsibilities. She has dedicated her life to setting an example for her younger siblings and making her parents proud. Ever since she can remember, she has aspired to become a doctor, driven by a deep curiosity about the human body and its functions. She eagerly anticipates the day when she can apply her knowledge to pursue her passion and become the doctor she knows she can be!
Mariam Sillah
Kennesaw State University
English
Ruqaiyah Njie graduated from Benjamin Banneker High School as the Valedictorian of her class. She is now pursuing a higher education at Kennesaw State University, majoring in English and minoring in Public Health. She hopes to make significant strides in the future and bring positive change to the Soninkara community with the help of Allah!
Ruqaiyah Njie
Atlanta Metropolitan State College
Nursing
Hawa Dukureh is a freshman in college taking 16 credit hours per semester. Although she is majoring in nursing, she plans to minor in business so that it can prepare her to become an entrepreneur in the future. Her dream place of employment is Emory Hospital. Hawa loves to cook, draw and make a poster in her free time.
Hawa Dukureh
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