The second Carvd N Stone scholarship gives young Wisconsin residents $1,500. Here's how to apply.

Last year, three young people received $1,000 scholarships from Carvd N Stone, a media company created and run by University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee graduate Nyesha Stone.

The $3,000 may not seem like much, but it's part of the company's goal to not only write about positive news but affect positive change in the lives of others.

The scholarships are awarded to graduates from a Wisconsin high school who will attend college as well as to creatives, such as writers, musicians and artists.

CNS was not alone in its mission. The 2019 Scholarship Fund received support from organizations such as the Milwaukee 2020 Host Committee, Milwaukee Health Department, AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin and Alverno College.

Stone said they are seeking additional sponsors.

Through more fundraising efforts and more partnerships, such as with American Family Insurance, Alverno College and MKE Black, the amount raised has increased to $4,500, with each recipient receiving $1,500.

Stone said that the pandemic has made supporting young people more important than ever.

"Our youth need to know someone has their back," she said.

Tanya McNeal, one of last year's three scholarship recipients, is paying it forward.

She is set to study at Tennessee State University, where she is majoring in agriculture because she wants to improve food security.

"I want to make sure that we never run out of food," she said. "Our population is always growing but our resources are limited so we need to develop new ways to produce food and healthy food to keep up with the growing population."

McNeal heard about the scholarship through her Milwaukee Public Schools counselor at Washington High School.

She said that having the funds, which can be applied toward anything from rent to household needs, helped her feel more secure.

"I was trying to make sure that I had enough money to go to college, through scholarships and grants," she said. "I bought toiletries and other necessities that I needed."

Her advice in applying?

"I started my essay talking about how I had curly hair and always want to make people laugh," she said. "Write about things that are unique."

Application process

To apply, applicants must be:

• Age 25 or younger
• A Wisconsin resident
• A student (a college-bound senior set to graduate from a Wisconsin high school) or a creative (writer, musician, artist, etc.)

Applicants will also be required to write a paragraph about themselves.

The application, which will appear on the CNS website, opens at 9 a.m. Sept. 1 and closes Sept. 30. Winners are announced during the first week of October and will be invited to a virtual celebration at the end of that month.

The Fund is still open to sponsors. Those interested in helping sponsor the scholarship are being asked to mail checks written out to "Carvd N Stone Inc." to P.O. Box 18031 Milwaukee, WI 53218 or make donations through the website.

Contact Talis Shelbourne at (414) 403-6651 or tshelbourn@jrn.com. Follow her on Twitter at @talisseer and message her on Facebook at @talisseer.

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