Costumers of Color, Inc. has two scholarship programs to support inclusion and equity in historical and/or fashion design-focused academic pursuits. These scholarships are awarded annually to students that meet our eligibility requirements. This educational initiative helps us meet our mission providing monetary support for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) who are enrolled in a degree program in the United States (including territories).
The Hattie S. Edwards scholarship was created to honor the memory and educational legacy of Hattie Smith Edwards, our founder’s great-grandmother. Mrs. Edwards was born at the beginning of the 20th-century in Dallas County, Alabama and was the daughter of a sharecropper. She went on to attend Tuskegee University and raise a family with her husband in Selma, Alabama. Our founder and executive director’s zeal for education came from this beloved ancestor.
The Samuel Smith scholarship was created to honor the memory and educational legacy of Samuel Smith, Sr, our founder’s grandfather. Mr. Smith was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and raised his four children with the goal of them pursuing higher education. He was attentive to the educational needs of his family, to the point of running for, winning, and holding the office of President of the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) at Greenville Elementary in the 1950’s. Mr. Smith’s children went on to earn degrees at the Southern University and work in the fields of speech therapy, engineering, education, and trucking. Mr. Smith left a lasting impact as he has 8 grandchildren, two of which are medical doctors, and almost all attended university and earned degrees.
Our founder, Gigi, has a rich educational legacy and is honored to pay homage to her ancestors with these scholarship opportunities.
Applicants must meet every requirement on the list. Our scholarships are awarded annually, and award amounts for 2026 are between $500 and $1,500.
Apply for the Hattie S. Edwards or Samuel Smith Scholarships.
The link to the application form is https://forms.gle/XjQxvPWgdv7PNq2s6
The 2024 Hattie Edwards Scholarship recipient, Cian, was announced via this Instagram post. She is known on Instagram as @hyliancream — and is a costumer of color majoring in Fashion Design set to graduate in 2025. Cian is also a cosplayer who actively works to make the scene more inclusive for the next generation. Cian wrote this to us as part of her entry:
