Norfolk State University Student Wins Writing Competition

Norfolk, Va.— Felix E. Nwokeabia Jr. won a $5000 scholarship at the Writers of Passage contest held during the recent National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education (NAFEO) conference in Washington, D.C. Essay writers must tell a compelling story about overcoming obstacles.

Nwokeabia, a journalism major who is scheduled to graduate in May 2008, wrote an essay which focused on how Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs) are uniquely qualified to prepare diverse students to compete in a global economy. He was required to present his essay in a written and oral presentation to the panel of judges. Sponsored by the Sallie Mae Fund, the writing contest provides scholarships to winners as well as helps colleges and universities with retention efforts. As a result of Nwokeabia’s win, Norfolk State will receive $20,000 from the Sallie Mae Fund for its retention programs.

Norfolk State University is a comprehensive four-year, co-educational, urban institution, located in Norfolk, Virginia, on a 134-acre campus. The University’s mission is to provide an affordable, high-quality education for an ethnically and culturally diverse student population. With a student enrollment of more than 6,200, NSU is committed to increasing undergraduate and graduate degree attainment in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, while continuing its longstanding tradition of a strong liberal arts academic program.

The Sallie Mae Fund is a charitable organization sponsored by Sallie Mae. The fund achieves its mission to increase access to higher education for America's students by supporting programs and initiatives that help open doors to higher education, prepare families for their college investment, and bridge the gap when no one else can.
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