About the episode

In this episode, Kiya Jones, Director of the Guided Pathway Support Program at the Ron Brown Scholar Program, opens by sharing her own remarkable journey as a first-generation college student who became a Ron Brown Scholar herself. Her story begins with a brochure handed over on a whim and ends with a life-changing moment in Washington D.C.. Kiya brings a uniquely personal perspective to her work, having experienced firsthand what it means to navigate the college and scholarship process without a roadmap, and she explains what truly sets the Ron Brown Scholar Program apart: not just the scholarship dollars, but the decades of genuine, scholar-centered support that follows students from senior year of high school well into their careers.

Kiya then pulls back the curtain on what the Ron Brown Scholar Program is actually looking for in applicants, and it may surprise students who think it comes down to GPA and test scores. She shares stories of scholars who won despite imperfect transcripts, limited extracurricular access, or unconventional paths, because they demonstrated the core ethos of the program: using their time and talents to uplift others. Kiya also offers candid advice on AI in scholarship applications, why authentic and even imperfect essays consistently outperform polished but soulless ones, and how students can overcome the fear of applying to highly selective scholarships.

About the episode

Mentioned in this episode