Claflin Student Receives Inaugural Youth Social Justice Advocate Scholarship Award

Claflin Student Receives Inaugural Youth Social Justice Advocate Scholarship Award

Kenneth White III, a senior mass communications major from St. Louis, Missouri, is an inaugural recipient of the Youth Social Justice Advocate Scholarship through the Urban Community Education Network & Training Center (UCEN). The $500 scholarship for the 2025-26 academic year honors students committed to addressing urgent issues such as community gun violence prevention and youth engagement. It also includes a leadership commitment to develop and implement a youth-focused social justice project that will impact both the campus and surrounding communities.

"Given the relevance of community gun violence prevention, youth engagement both locally and nationally, this is a powerful opportunity to highlight how White is preparing students to serve as catalysts for generational change," said Dr. Celestial Haynes-Price Davis, president and UCEN founder.

White became an ardent advocate of gun violence prevention after losing his father and a cousin in two separate shootings. White's commitment intensified after he was shot six times and miraculously survived the attack.

"After the shooting and the deaths of my family members, I was involved in organizing a march to increase the awareness of gun violence," White said. "The march attracted more than 700 participants. I established a non-profit social justice organization after the march - Movement Not Moment - that focuses on ending gun violence in St. Louis.

Dr. Haynes-Price Davis contacted me after hearing my story and asked me to apply for the scholarship."

It was a chance event that placed White on his path to South Carolina's No.1 Historically Black College/University (HBCU). Dr. Dwaun J. Warmack, who served as president for five years at Harris-Stowe University before his appointment as Claflin's ninth president, returned to St. Louis to speak at Cardinal Ritter Preparatory High School. White was student at Cardinal Ritter at the time, and he attended Warmack's presentation. In addition to being impressed by Claflin's exceptional academic programs, Warmack's description of the University's picturesque landscape and familial campus culture, sold him on Claflin.

White, a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., will graduate in December 2025. He plans to continue his advocacy and activism for causes that promote positive political and social change.