The Blackburn Institute is excited to announce the results of the 2025 Daniel Community Scholars Competition. Each Blackburn New Student Class is divided into teams to develop community-based grant proposals to compete for funding. Through the Daniel Community Scholars Endowed Support Fund, The Daniel Foundation of Alabama funds Blackburn student-led initiatives to address the needs of Alabama communities.
This year, four projects will receive funding. The winning projects for 2025-6 are:
Clean Slate: Providing A Warrant Clinic in Tuscaloosa
This project consists of a one-day community warrant clinic, focused on clearing outstanding misdemeanor and traffic court violations or setting new court dates for participants.
Team members: Destiney Crawford, J.B. Foster, Woods Hobbs, Madeline Martin, and Jai Ivy Raines
Phonics in Practice
Blackburn students will play a crucial role in the implementation of the Reading Allies program at Greensboro Elementary school in Hale County, AL.
Team members: Margaret Ann Browning, Danielle Chbeir, Jack Gibby, Brody Mazingo, and Lily Frances Price
Mending Maternal Healthcare in Alabama
This project will develop a platform that would allow expectant mothers in rural areas of West Alabama to connect with a community healthcare worker.
Team members: Christian Colwell, Jazlynn Corprew, Samuel Hochhauser, Jay Jones, and Ella McCarthy
Selma Entrepreneur Development Certification Program
This project will recruit Selma entrepreneurs through a brief outreach, direct prospects to Selma River Pitch, and invite selected pitchers into a sponsored certification cohort.
Team members: Micah Adams, Landon Bruski, Lana Grace Fields, Sam McKinney, and Eleanor Vest
