FAMU’s Haleem Brown earns Tom Joyner Foundation Hercules Scholarship

FAMU biology student Haleem Brown, 19, has been named the first of five FAMU students who will receive a Tom Joyner Foundation Hercules Scholarship during the month of January.

The scholarship is being awarded in conjunction with the foundation’s School of the Month recognition program, which highlights FAMU as its January “School of the Month.” Tom Joyner will announce the scholarship recipients each Thursday in this month and recognized Brown on today’s airing of the “Tom Joyner Morning Show.”

Brown, an Apopka, Fla., native, holds a 4.0 GPA and plans to attend medical school in order to pursue a career in health care. When he’s not hitting the books, he dedicates his free time to serving as a mentor and volunteer basketball coach to high school students at the FAMU Developmental Research School (FAMU DRS).

“I really believe in doing whatever I can to help people and make a difference in the community,” said Brown, who explained that witnessing his mother face diabetes, and watching people in his community struggle in various ways, inspired him to help others through health care and volunteerism.

It is Brown’s passion for learning and giving back that has earned him the honor of being a recipient of the Hercules Scholarship. As a Hercules Scholar, Brown, a freshman, will be awarded $1,500 to use toward tuition, books and on-campus living.

“I don’t do it just for recognition,” Brown said after learning of the honor. “I do it because it’s the right thing to do – helping others is the right thing to do. It’s in my heart and my parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts and former teammates helped to instill it in me.”

As he continues to strive toward academic excellence, Brown said he would stop at nothing to live out his personal motto, “He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother,” which reflects his passion for lifting others up.

The Hercules Scholarship is awarded to male students who exhibit leadership skills, are active in the community and maintain at least a 3.5 GPA. Additionally, scholarship recipients must plan to embark in a career that will positively impact the quality of life of others.

As a part of the School of the Month recognition, the Tom Joyner Foundation will partner with FAMU throughout the year in a fundraiser that serves to challenge FAMU alumni and supporters to make record-breaking donations toward providing more scholarships to deserving students.

To donate scholarship dollars toward the FAMU School of the Month fundraiser or learn more about the Hercules Scholarship, visit: http://tomjoynerfoundation.org/donate.