Rihanna Announces Scholarship Program

Rihanna recognizes hard work, work, work, work, work, and she’s about to reward it, too.

Through the Clara Lionel Foundation that she founded in 2012 as a tribute to her grandparents Clara and Lionel Braithwaite, RiRi has launched a global scholarship program, which sets to reward students from different countries who are going to college in the U.S.

“To be able to give the gift of an education is actually an honor,” said Rihanna, whose album ANTI remains in the top 5 on the Billboard 200 this week. “Higher education will help provide perspective, opportunities, and learning to a group of kids who really deserve it. I am thrilled to be able to do this.”

Students from Barbados, Brazil, Cuba, Haiti, Guyana, and Jamaica are eligible for the award if they’ve earned acceptance “into a bachelor’s degree program at an accredited four-year college or university in the United States for the 2016-2017 year,” according to USA Today.

The application for our Global Scholarship Program is now live! Apply here: https://t.co/jXtd7OieF8

— Clara Lionel Fdn (@ClaraLionelFdn) May 9, 2016

Scholarships will vary, ranging from $5,000 to $50,000, based on criteria that a committee has put forth. That same team will screen all applicants and come up with a list of 50 finalists. Winners will be revealed by August.

The awards can also be renewed, according to the foundation’s website. “Awards may be renewed for up to three additional years or until a bachelor’s degree is earned, whichever occurs first,” reads a stipulation. “Renewal is contingent upon satisfactory academic performance maintaining a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale (or the equivalent) each semester.”

For more on Rihanna’s Clara Lionel Foundation, see the informative video below, where she speaks about why she’s decided to help students from around the globe. To sign up for a scholarship, visit the foundation’s website.