Hundreds of Metro Atlanta students and their families crowded into New Birth Missionary Baptist Church on Sunday, June 14 for Scholarship Sunday, followed by a college and career fair that turned the sanctuary into a one-stop shop for educational opportunity. Graduating seniors and returning students met with representatives from historically Black colleges, technical colleges and workforce partners offering on-the-spot admissions help, scholarship interviews and training pathways. During the service, New Birth recognized 59 graduates and awarded direct scholarships to church members.
Organizers reported that roughly 800 students and more than 1,000 family members took part in the day, as New Birth distributed over $180,000 in church-funded scholarships and highlighted additional institutional awards across the floor. All told, the church and its partners pointed students toward more than $5 million in scholarship opportunities, according to Atlanta Daily World.
In the days leading up to the event, New Birth circulated a media-friendly promotional release listing participating schools, including Clark Atlanta University, Howard University, South Carolina State University and Atlanta Technical College, and invited outlets to use event photos and b-roll. The church’s PR release, shared via EIN Presswire, also positioned the fair as a bridge to workforce and trade careers and highlighted the availability of 400 trade scholarships through WorkForceCareers.
HBCUs, Technical Colleges and Workforce Partners Put Money on the Table
Some of the most eye-catching commitments at the fair came from historically Black colleges and universities. Clark Atlanta University pledged more than $750,000 in scholarship support, while South Carolina State University offered packages estimated at roughly $2.8 million to about 160 students. Workforce-focused partners announced 400 scholarships for students ages 18 to 24 and indicated the program will extend this fall to include adults 25 and older. "Scholarship Sunday 2026 was more than an event it was an investment in the future," Dr. Jamal Bryant said, according to Atlanta Daily World.
New Birth is making event photos and video accessible to both reporters and families, with organizers posting a photo gallery and b-roll on the church’s media pages to help attendees confirm scholarship details or follow up on offers. Families who could not attend the fair were urged to contact the participating institutions directly or visit the church’s media gallery to see which partners extended on-the-spot awards and admissions guidance, per New Birth Media.
For Metro Atlanta students facing rising education costs and a tight job market, the combination of scholarships, admissions meetings and trade training at New Birth offered both immediate financial help and clearer paths forward. Organizers said the church expects to keep nurturing those relationships in the coming months as partners work to turn offers into actual enrollments and earned certificates.
