Rashad M. McClaney Hope and Healing Scholarship

Rashad Montel McClaney was only 25 years old when he was tragically taken from his family on November 3, 2018. After his sudden passing, Dr. Venesia and Mr. Ahmaad McClaney established the Rashad M. McClaney Foundation to honor the life and legacy of their beloved son and brother. In January of 2025, the foundation established the Rashad M. McClaney Hope and Healing Scholarship as a way to assist Troy University students who have lost a parent or sibling to violence. Rashad’s scholarship is awarded to students who are residents of Alabama’s Black Belt counties. Such counties include Barbour, Bullock, Butler, Choctaw, Crenshaw, Dallas, Green, Hale, Lowndes, Macon, Marengo, Montgomery, Perry, Pickens, Pike, Russell, Sumter, and Wilcox. Applicants must be incoming freshmen on TROY’s main campus, have and maintain a 2.5 GPA, and provide documentation of their loved ones passing. Applicants must submit a 300 to 500-word personal statement for the scholarship committee and donors to review, addressing the following prompt: “Describe how losing a parent or sibling to violence has shaped your life and influenced your goals. How will this scholarship support your journey at Troy University?” Recipients are required to write a letter of appreciation to the donor and attend the annual Scholarship Donor and Recipient Reception.