December 7, 2021 (Jackson, Miss.) - Belhaven University is honoring well-known author Angie Thomas '11 by helping young aspiring writers in a major way. The Angie Thomas Writers Scholarship will provide a full-ride scholarship to one incoming creative writing major and additional scholarship awards to other applicants.
Now in its third year, these scholarships are named in honor of Thomas, author of New York Times best-selling novels On the Come Up, The Hate U Give, and Concrete Rose. The Hate U Give was developed into a major motion picture and Thomas is working as a producer on the film version of On the Come Up.
“It means the world to me to have a scholarship in my honor and to know that Belhaven has this level of pride for me,” said Thomas. “Even more than that, it's incredible to know that this could play a huge role in a young writer's life. That alone is an honor.”
Thomas is encouraging students to apply and believes there are many young writers who need the extra support to make their dreams of authorship a reality. “It truly is a blessing to be a blessing, and the Angie Thomas Writers Scholarship is just that. For the third straight year, yet another young writer will be given the opportunity to hone their craft without a financial burden weighing them down.”
“The scholarship provides an unparalleled opportunity for four years of growth as a writer, person, and artist,” said Chair and Professor of Creative Writing Dr. Randall Smith. “Through the BFA in Creative Writing, gifted storytellers and poets are welcomed into a writing community with a long and storied history of excellence.”
Belhaven will award one incoming freshman a full-ride scholarship, which will cover tuition, room and board at the University for four years. Other applicants may receive scholarships as part of the program.
Scholarship applications are due March 15, 2022 and the winner will be selected on April 15, 2022. Interested students can visit gobelhaven.com/angie to learn more about the requirements and apply today.
“Angie has shown us all that a voice of significance can reach and change the world,” said Belhaven University President Dr. Roger Parrott.“I can't wait to see which Belhaven student is next to become a writer of distinction.”
About Angie Thomas
Angie Thomas was born, raised, and still lives in Jackson, Mississippi. A former teen rapper, she holds a BFA in creative writing from Belhaven University. Her debut novel, The Hate U Give, started as a senior project in college. It was later acquired by the Balzer+Bray imprint of HarperCollins Publishers and debuted at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list and was adapted into a critically acclaimed film.
Angie's second novel, On The Come Up, is a #1 New York Times bestseller as well, and a film is in development with Paramount Pictures with Thomas acting as a producer. In 2020, she released Find Your Voice: A Guided Journal to Writing Your Truth as a tool to help aspiring writers tell their stories. In 2021, Thomas returned to the world of Garden Heights with Concrete Rose, a prequel to The Hate U Give that debuted at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list.