Sydney St. Julian was at a crossroads.
As she approached her senior year at Prairie View A&M University, the weight of student loans and tuition costs loomed over her. A biology major with dreams of becoming a pharmacist, she knew she would have to take on even more debt to pursue graduate school.
Then, she received news that changed everything. She had been awarded the Waymon Webster Scholarship Fund, created by Travis Scott’s Cactus Jack Foundation to support students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
“This scholarship was a blessing,” St. Julian said. “I knew I would have to take out loans to cover my first year of pharmacy school, and then my best friend Raven sent me the scholarship. I applied, not thinking I would get it, and when I did, it literally covered my first year of graduate school. It made my transition so much smoother.”
St. Julian’s story is just one example of Scott’s initiative directly impacting HBCU students. The foundation hosted the HBCU Celebrity Softball Classic and Home Run Derby, an event dedicated to raising funds for the scholarship program and expanding resources for Black students in higher education.
Scott launched the fund in honor of his grandfather, an educator who believed deeply in the power of learning. Through this initiative, the Cactus Jack Foundation provides $10,000 scholarships to high-achieving students at HBCUs, ensuring they can continue their educations without financial strain.
HBCUs have played a crucial role in the success of Black students for generations, but many institutions remain underfunded compared to predominantly white institutions (PWIs). For many students, securing the necessary funds to complete their degrees is an ongoing struggle.
The scholarship was an unexpected lifeline for Prairie View A&M University graduate Raven Hollis, who majored in biology with minors in chemistry and health. It was a way to lessen the burden of student loans.
“I definitely applied, not thinking I was going to get it,” Hollis said. “You don’t hear about people getting a $10,000 scholarship. But when I won, it was just an overwhelming feeling. It reminded me of my own worth, of what I was capable of.”
Now, as a medical student, Hollins is navigating the challenges of graduate school with a sense of security, knowing she has less of a financial burden.
“My tuition is $60,000 a year. Who can afford that?” she said. “This scholarship was a reminder that someone out there cares about me and my future.”
Jackson State University graduate Erin Farmer also spoke about the unique challenges that Black students, particularly Black women, face in higher education.
“Coming from a single-parent home, it’s not always easy,” she said. “My mom raised me by herself while working three jobs. As Black women, people don’t always recognize our potential, and that makes us push ten times harder,” she said. “This scholarship was not just about money—it was about opportunity.”
The HBCU Celebrity Softball Classic wasn’t just about raising money—it was about visibility, community and inspiring future generations. The event featured high-profile figures, including hip-hop legend Bun B, Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud and former Houston Astros player Carl Crawford, all of whom played in support of the scholarship program.
In 2022, 100 students from HBCUs received $1 million in scholarships from Travis Scott’s Cactus Jack Foundation. The scholarships were a component of his Project HEAL initiative. Scott vowed to boost his donations from the previous year as part of the multi-million dollar initiative, which the foundation was able to accomplish.
