The NBRPA Awards 87 Scholarships through The Dave Debusschere Scholarship Fund

CHICAGO, IL – The National Basketball Retired Players Association (NBRPA) continues to deliver on its mission of providing educational opportunities to former basketball players and their families. Through the Dave DeBusschere Scholarship Fund, the NBRPA awarded 87 undergraduate and graduate scholarships to its membership. The scholarship, initiated in honor of the late Dave DeBusschere, provides financial support to eligible NBRPA members, their spouses, children and grandchildren in pursuit of degrees in higher education.

“There is nothing more motivating than giving our children and families opportunities to do great things,” said Board Chairman Spencer Haywood. “We hope this scholarship is just the beginning of a bright future ahead for them.”

Ten select DeBusschere scholarship recipients also received the Earl Lloyd Scholarship which is awarded to applicants in-need of additional support. The NBA Players Legacy Fund, which provides this additional assistance to members in-need, awarded 10 recipients a scholarship in excess of $50,000. Collectively, the Dave DeBusschere Scholarship Fund and Earl Lloyd Scholarship distributed $260,000 amongst eligible students in 2019.

Over the past two years, the NBRPA has distributed 130-plus scholarships and more than $500,000 in total payouts. To date, the NBRPA has awarded members and their families more than $1.6 million in scholarships through the cornerstone initiative.

In addition to the college scholarships, the Dave DeBusschere Scholarship Fund supports the NBRPA Chapter Program’s annual Reading Initiative, wherein educational programs in the twelve chapter cities receive funding.

See below for a full list of the 2019 Dave DeBusschere Scholarship recipients:

Tyrell AponteLandys HughesAlexa Lister Cristina Santiago-Espinet
Ava BirdinJ'Den HumphriesAlton ListerSyarra Sellers
Mylaisia BirdsongCaleb HutchinsonHailey MackShayla Sellers
Earl A. Boykins Jr.Mariah Hutchinson Michael McClanahanColton Shreve
Mehsai BradleyBenjamin InnigerTimothy McCormickKendall Smith
Jaila BrooksMichael InnigerAlicia McDanielJaden Smith
Isabelle BrownTrey JohnsonGrace Meschery-McCormackKarch Smith
Samantha BuddTemeka JohnsonAmara Money-WilliamsSevena Smith
Antoine CarrShoneia JonesTianna NesbyLuke Smrek
Alona ClarkAlanna JonesElijah O'BryantEric Snow
Stephanie ColterKelli JonesEmery O'BryantJazmine Thomas
Sari CuretonLogan JonesSkyla OwensTrevor Toolson
Jaelyn DeJesusReilly JonesLiana PachotChloe Tower
Jason EakinsSamuel JonesJean PackCarly Tower
Kolbi-Rae EdneyKaley JonesWill ParrishKeith Tower
Lindsey FinkelWalter Jones IIIAvery PowellReagan Tripucka
Hayden GambeeCaitlin KeefeMelanie RangeTristan Von Nieda
Reilly GambeeAlyssa KeelingCamille RangeEvan Wilkins
Tai GilbertAnthony KeelingErin RecasnerJazzmyne Williams
Aryana HarveyMason KiteSamuel RobertsAvery Wooten
Jayda HowardThomsen KiteMayneatha RoyalJordan Wooten
Stephen HowardTalmage KiteKyndall Russell- Adams