United Baptist Convention of Del. Establishes Book Scholarship

A Baptist organization has joined Delaware State University in its effort to keep education affordable.

The United Baptist Convention of Delaware (UBCD) has established a $16,410 Rev. Tommie Lee Brown Memorial Book Scholarship endowment to help Delaware State University students who are part of the organization’s member Baptist churches.

Dr. Lonnie E. Rector, president of the UBCD and pastor of Pilgrim Baptist Church in Newark, along with a delegation from the Baptist organization paid a visit to DSU President Harry L. Williams at his office to celebrate the endowment.

The UBCD president said it is appropriate for the Baptist church organization in Delaware to support DSU.

“When I was in South Carolina, I was accustomed to working with black colleges there,” Dr. Rector said. “When I arrived to Delaware, I noticed that we weren’t supporting our (HBCU) college here in Delaware as we should.”

He added that a book scholarship is much needed as it is a big challenge for students to cover the cost of expensive college textbooks.

“Making a financial contribution to DSU helps students to focus on the intended purpose of higher education, which is to achieve academically rather than having to constantly worry about how they can afford to stay in college,” Dr. Rector said. “Together, we can make this happen.”

The late Rev. Tommie Lee Brown, the namesake of the scholarship, was pastor of New Hope Baptist Church and served two tenures as president of the UBCD, the last of which ended with his passing in 2002. UBCD officials note that Rev. Brown had a passion for learning, and therefore the scholarship was a good way to memorialize his leadership.