Via GlobalGrind.com
Justin Combs was a hot topic last week! The son of Sean “P. Diddy” Combs, received an athletic scholarship from UCLA due to his academic and athletic success. Justin earned a 3.7 GPA in high school and was a star football player (All Star/All American). Most students with those credentials would receive a scholarship. But according to many, there’s one problem; his father is a millionaire. Since his dad can afford to send him to college, shouldn’t Justin return the athletic scholarship so someone else is need can use the scholarship to attend school?
ABSOLUTELY NOT!
People fail to understand that athletic and academic scholarships are not need based. They are based on athletics and academic success. UCLA spokesman Ricardo Vazquez stated:
“There’s a misconception out there that somehow athletic scholarships would take away money from low-income students who need need-based aid. That’s not the case. Athletic scholarships are awarded strictly on the basis of athletic and academic ability.”
Justin Combs worked hard for four years to receive a high GPA and to become a top high school football player. He EARNED his scholarship and is entitled to it just like any other student who worked just as hard, regardless of his parent’s income. I’m sure he isn’t the first child of rich parents to receive a non-need based scholarship to attend a university, so why is it a problem now?
What message does that send if students who earned their scholarships were required to return them because they had rich parents? We’d be teaching kids that they don’t have to work hard to achieve anything; all they need is money. In this case, money they didn’t earn. Academic and athletic scholarships award students for academic and athletic excellence.
I think it’s great that Justin Combs, regardless of his father’s status, still put in work to receive a scholarship from UCLA. I hope he is able to serve as an example to other students that they too can achieve success if they work hard and stay focused.
Well said Justin, well said!
Source TheYBF.com
