University of Virginia Library

Eight Negro Students
Win Danforth Grants

By Jay Steer
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

Eight outstanding Negro Students
have decided to enroll in
Graduate school here next year
under Danforth Foundation
fellowships, more than any other
University in the South.

The fellowships were distributed
by the Council of Southern
Universities three weeks ago as
part of a newly initiated program
to improve the faculties of
predominantly Negro colleges in
the South.

The 160 students selected were
able to choose to enroll in any
University in the United States
or abroad, with the sole requirement
of promising to teach
in any predominantly Negro
college in the South after
graduation.

Stipends awarded ranged from
$2,300 per year for first-year
graduate students, to $4,800 to
students completing their dissertation.

"The fellowships are highly
competitive," explained Edward
E. Younger, Dean of the Graduate
School, "attracting the best
Negroes in the South."

Mr. Younger also said that
Virginia attracted more students
than any other University in
the nation, except for Columbia
in New York City, and Indiana
University.

Mr. Younger predicted that
"word will get around to Graduate
Schools throughout the country
that Virginia is an attractive
place for Negro students.

"Negro students find here an
environment receptive to their
needs. Their choice shows that
they want to live here."

With financial support from
the Danforth Foundation, the
agency awards fellowships on a
competitive basis to applicants
who are engaged in doctoral
programs or who expect to seek
doctoral degrees.

Members of faculties in Southern
Negro colleges are eligible
as well as graduate students who
expect to teach in these colleges.

The scholarships program was
begun four years ago with a
five million dollar grant from the
nine member Council of Southern
Universities. A total of 183
out of 375 applicants won grants
this year.

Of the eight recipients choosing
the University, four hold
bachelor's degrees, or are candidates
for such degrees, from
Virginia Institutions. Three students
are now enrolled in graduate
programs here.

The students already enrolled
here are: Jim Roebuck from
Virginia Union University, Graduate
History; Daryl Dance from
Virginia State College, Graduate
English; Ray Gavins, from Virginia
Union University, Graduate
History.

The other Five students are:
Virginia Brown from Lincoln
University, Graduate English;
Ernest Martin, from West Virginia
Institute of Technology,
Graduate English; Shepherd
Massey, from Barber-Scotia College,
Graduate History; Connie
Russell, Virginia State College,
Graduate Mathematics; and
Annie Barnes, from Shaw University,
Graduate Sociology.

Of these five students, Mrs.
Brown, is presently an instructor
at Albany State College, and
Mrs. Barnes teaches Sociology
at Hampton Institute.

The three students here were
sponsored last year by this same
fund, and have chosen to continue
their studies here.