DCHA Honors Recipients of 2025 Commitment to Excellence Scholarship

The DC Housing Authority celebrated the recipients of the 2025 Commitment to Excellence Scholarship with an inspiring award ceremony that featured remarks from DCHA staff, insights from a keynote speaker, a guest performance, and a delicious lunch. Sixteen recipients were honored at the event, held at the EnVision Center on Saturday, July 26. Each awardee has impressive aspirations and is dedicated to achieving their goals.

"I warmly congratulate this year's Commitment to Excellence Scholarship winners," Executive Director Keith Pettigrew said. "These students earned this award through their dedication, discipline, and perseverance. It is truly an honor for DCHA to help them achieve their goals and to cheer them on as they continue to excel."

The Commitment to Excellence Scholarship Program (CESP) is given to students who are DCHA Public Housing residents or Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCVP) household members. Students must be enrolled at an accredited college, university, or trade/technical school. These scholarships help recipients pay for books, tuition, equipment, and other additional materials that can help support students in their educational journeys.

"DCHA remains steadfast in its commitment to expanding access to higher education and delivering life changing programs that foster academic, personal, and professional growth," said Brian Harris, Director of DCHA's Office of Resident Services.

Ty'Ronn Spriggs, Special Initiatives and Youth Coordinator in the DCHA Office of Resident Services, welcomed attendees and was followed by words of encouragement from DCHA Commissioners and a representative from the Scholarship Review Panel. DC-based professional singer and songwriter Maddie Assel also performed.

The event also included a speech from Ms. Taysue Morris, who was the keynote speaker. Morris is passionate about advancing access to culturally responsive mental health care and promoting the power of education in healing and transformation. She is the founder of Renew You Counseling, LLC, a private practice offering holistic and narrative-based therapy.

Congratulations to the students who won a 2025 Commitment to Excellence Scholarship:

• Cequoia Askew, Tuskegee University
• D'Marco Barksdale, Morgan State University
• Calique Barnes, Morehouse College
• Shakayla Clark-Day, Prairie View A&M University
• Lucious Crawford, Fordham University
• Jada Cummings, Capella University
• Shalontia Dowe, Trinity University
• Deidre Eskew, Trinity University
• Roger Ferguson, Frostburg State University
• Tatianya Jones, George Mason University
• Shanti Osborne, Ohio State University
• Londen Price, Walden University
• Andrew Thomas, Marshall University
• Jocelyn Humphries, Trinity University
• Bryian Williams, Howard University
• Germaine Williams, University of the District of Columbia