BGS SCHOLARS
BGS proudly celebrates our scholars and their achievements—from entrepreneurship to academic excellence. Meet just a few of our scholarship recipients and explore their inspiring journeys below.
Ariyah Black is currently finishing her junior year of high school and preparing to enter her senior year, already earning her Associate degree in Applied Science. She maintains an impressive 4.8 GPA while taking all dual credit classes. In addition, she founded a program at her school called Chi STEM Sisters, which mentors girls to pursue their career goals and recognize their worth.
BGS K-12 Scholarship 2025, High School RecipientAriyah Black
Eden Wilson is an Innovation Lab Fellow at Spelman College, building Granted Reading—an AI-powered tool that helps special educators create customized reading worksheets. She has secured thousands in funding, earning 1st place in the Center for Black Entrepreneurship’s New Venture Competition Idea Track and 2nd place at the NSBE National Entrepreneurship Showcase. Passionate about supporting students with learning disabilities, she is preparing to launch beta testing to expand her impact.
BGS Semester Scholarship 2025, Undergraduate RecipientEden Wilson
Victoria Jenkins currently works at the World Wildlife Fund on the Plastics and Material Science Team. In addition, she is pursuing her M.S. in Natural Resources at Virginia Tech while also earning certificates in Global Sustainability and Global Natural Resource Management.
BGS Earth Day Scholarship 2025, Graduate RecipientVictoria Jenkins
Daja Elum is an Atmospheric Science PhD student at Howard University and a Spectral Imagery Scientist for the Department of War. She is also the founder and executive director of The Earthly Advocate — a nonprofit organization centered on providing Geographic Information System (GIS) education and research to communities affected by environmental injustice.
BGS STEM Small Business Scholarship 2024, Small Business Owner RecipientDaja Elum
Hannah Butler graduated this May with her Master of Health Science in Biomedical Science from Quinnipiac University. During graduate school, she conducted two research projects with Connecticut Children's Medical Center focused on REL (race, ethnicity, and language) data collection in healthcare systems and the impact of social media influencers on adolescent health behaviors. In 2024, her nonprofit, Petals and S.T.E.M., received the BGS STEM Business Scholars Award, helping expand accessibility and reduce financial barriers within the community. This year, the organization celebrates four years of mentorship and community impact, alongside the launch of its new sub-brand, AfterHours, a social event series centered on culture and connection.
BGS STEM Small Business Scholarship 2024, Small Business Owner Recipient