Negro Leagues Committee Awards Two $2,500 Scholarships
The Negro Leagues Committee of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) is pleased to award $2,500 scholarships to two graduating high school seniors as a result of its third annual national essay contest.
The selection committee of educators Philip Ross (New York), Tom Garrett (Virginia) and Stephanie Liscio (Ohio) selected Annie Yang of Watchung Hills Regional High School in Warren, New Jersey, and Emma Murphy of Osbourn High School in Manassas, Virginia.
The contest was open to high school seniors planning to pursue a degree at an accredited U.S. post-secondary institution and carrying a minimum 2.5 GPA at the end of their junior year. Students had to write a 1,000-word essay answering one of the following questions: “What is the Legacy of Jackie Robinson?” or “What influence or impact did Rube Foster have on the African American Community by creating the Negro Leagues?”
Annie Yang’s essay, entitled “Rube the Renaissance Man”, is an examination of the influence of Rube Foster that went far beyond the baseball diamond. Emma Murphy’s essay, “A Dream Pursued”, focuses on the struggles of Jackie Robinson to overcome the barrier of segregation and to leave a legacy for so many to follow.
Larry Lester, co-chair of the Negro Leagues Committee, says, “To the credit of our scholarship winners, Yang and Murphy beat competitive essays from 34 states and Washington, D.C., with the will and skill often exhibited by Negro League players before Jackie Robinson.”
Yang and Murphy will be recognized at the Jerry Malloy Negro League Conference on July 23 at the JW Marriott in Indianapolis, Indiana. Conference information can also be found at http://www.larrylester42.com/jerry-malloy-negro-leagues-conference.
The Jerry Malloy Negro League Conference is the only symposium dedicated exclusively to the examination of black baseball history.
Originally published: April 18, 2011. Last Updated: April 22, 2020.