Courtesy of Bowie State University
At the beginning of the fall 2021 semester, Paige Blake became one of 86 students participating in the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) Scholars Program recognized for their academic achievements, entrepreneurship, and campus leadership. For Blake, a junior biology major at Bowie State University, the honor carries much more significance than for most scholars as she follows in her mother’s footsteps.
When Paige was in high school her mother Donovan Griffin – Blake, was named a 2016 White House Scholar as she pursued her doctorate in education while teaching full-time in the Montgomery County Public Schools, serving as an officer in the Graduate Student Association, and working as a volunteer for various community outreach programs at her church.
“To my knowledge, this is the first time that a mother and daughter from any HBCU have been named White House Scholars,” said Elyse Jones, HBCU Scholars Program Coordinator in the U.S. Department of Education. “Our selection process demands that we evaluate an applicant’s academic record, civic involvement, leadership, and entrepreneurial qualities. To have a mother and daughter both recognized for their achievement speaks volumes for them and Bowie State,” she said.
Over the course of an academic school year, the HBCU Scholars serve as ambassadors for the initiative and for their colleges and universities. Scholars also receive information about the value of education, participate in networking events, engage with civic organizations, and share what they learn with other students.
“My journey hasn’t been easy, living with a disability, but my mother taught me how to stand up for myself because she would not always be there,” said Paige. “When life gave me opportunities to use my voice, I decided to use it to also help others.”
Paige is currently the Undergraduate Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for the University System of Maryland Student Council (USMSC) where she helps to amplify and address the concerns of undergraduate students at USM institutions.
“COVID and how it impacts life on campuses is still probably one of the top concerns of students today as they continue to adjust to the pandemic’s fallout,” said Paige. “Many want to know if and when campus life will ever return to normal again.”
“My hope has never been for Paige to be a copy of me, but for her to learn from my experiences while blazing her own trail,” said Dr. Griffin-Blake. “Although our paths are similar, we don’t wear the same size shoes.”
After graduating from Bowie State in 2023, Paige Blake plans to attend medical school to become a physician.
