Cavaliers Community Foundation to Grant $100,000 in Scholarships to Local High School and College Students

CLEVELAND – The Cavaliers Community Foundation (CCF) will grant 10 Northeast Ohio high school and college students each a $10,000 scholarship to continue their education. The recipients will be honored at a pregame banquet and during a halftime celebration at the Cavs vs. Charlotte Hornets game at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on Sunday, April 14. 

This year, with support from Cleveland Cavaliers Guard Donovan Mitchell and a commitment from the Cavs to increase the investment, CCF has doubled the total amount of scholarship grants from $50,000 to $100,000 and introduced an inaugural scholarship for students enrolling or already attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Mitchell’s contribution to the new HBCU scholarship comes from his foundation, SPIDACARES Inc.

"Congratulations to all of this year’s scholarship recipients,” said Nic Barlage, Cleveland Cavaliers, Rock Entertainment Group and Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse CEO. “Education is a foundational tool to help prepare youth with the resources and skills they need to make a positive impact in their communities and the world at large. It is a privilege to partner with Huntington and SPIDACARES to support the 2024 scholarship class in their pursuit of academic enrichment and to celebrate the hard work and dedication that helped them reach this milestone."

The Cavaliers Scholarship Program supported by Huntington awards five graduating seniors a $10,000 scholarship each to attend college, vocational/trade school or a similar education course that will provide certification or a degree during the 2024-2025 academic year. The scholarship funds can be applied to verifiable costs associated with college or vocational/trade school, including tuition, fees, books and other related educational expenses. Scholarship recipients are selected based on academic performance, outstanding community service and financial need. In addition to the five scholarships, Huntington will also help five additional students establish savings accounts pre-funded with $1,000 each. 

“At Huntington, we believe that education is an important step on the pathway to prosperity. That’s why we’re honored to continue our financial support and partner with the Cavs Community Foundation to provide these scholarships that we hope will be truly transformational for these students,” said Roshonda Smith, Vice President, Regional Community Development Manager, HuntingtonNational Bank.

CCF advanced its mission of investing in the development of youth through the creation of the HBCU scholarship program this year in partnership with Cavs Guard Donovan Mitchell and his foundation SPIDACARES. Aimed to support students currently pursuing or seeking an education at an HBCU, the program awards 5 students a $10,000 scholarship each. Founded in 2019 by Mitchell and his family, SPIDACARES provides resources and opportunities for youth through various athletic programs, awarding grants and scholarships to students with financial needs who exemplify the spirit of hard work, empathy and leadership.

"To be able to contribute to this scholarship and witness it come to life is truly remarkable," said Donovan Mitchell, SPIDACARES Founder. "We are honored to partner with the Cavs on this HBCU initiative, and we're confident that the recipients will seize this opportunity to push their dreams forward and create meaningful change."

The following students are the recipients of the Cavaliers and HBCU Scholarship: