It has been 10 years since the release of the groundbreaking album LEMONADE. In celebration of its cultural impact, BeyGOOD launched the Formation Scholars program in 2017. The scholarship was created to uplift and support young women pursuing studies in creative arts, music, literature, and African American Studies.

The initiative served as a powerful moment to honor emerging creatives who were already shaping culture and pushing boundaries within their respective fields. At its core, the foundation remained committed to recognizing individuals who were making a difference in their own right and helping shape the world for GOOD.

The scholarship was open to students attending Berklee College of Music, Parsons School of Design, and historically Black colleges and universities, including Howard University and Spelman College.

Among the recipients were the following: 

Sadiya Ramos (Berklee College of Music)
Avery Youngblood (Parsons School of Design)
Maya Rogers (Howard University)
Bria Paige (Spelman College)

We had the opportunity to catch up with these scholars to learn more about their journeys and the lasting impact the program had on their careers.

WHERE ARE YOU NOW?  

I am currently living in Brooklyn, continuing my professional dance career. I recently hosted a project fusing my artistry with my social justice fervor. In partnership with the Brooklyn Public Library, I hosted a menstrual product drive at the Macon Library in Bed-Stuy. I created a donation box, encouraging community members and those adjacent to donate and bring awareness to period poverty. I also hosted a fundraiser in partnership with an organization called For Women By Women and raised $1,385, sponsoring menstrual products for about 300 menstruators across all five boroughs. It brought me delight to bring accessibility to my community and NYC at large with the help of my community and village. I’ve also worked in collaboration with local artists, continuing to expand the boundaries and traditions of ballet. 

HOW DID OUR FOUNDER INSPIRE YOU IN THE CREATIVE SPACE? 

I aspire to build a longevous career in film, bringing more dance to the screen and expanding how movement can be utilized for visual storytelling. Thank you, Mrs. Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, for creating meaningful opportunities for young students and artists to receive the support they need to thrive in their academic and creative pursuits.You have been an impactful force and a strong influence in my life since I was a little girl and your support during some of the most demanding years of my life is beyond what words can express. Thank you for being a demonstrative of artistic dedication. Thank you for inspiring others to pursue their innate calling without apology. And, most of all, thank you for seeing me.

WHAT ARE YOU UP TO NOWADAYS?  

I received the Formation Scholarship during Summer 2017 when I was participating in the UNCF Mellon Mays Summer Institute in Atlanta, Georgia. I was surrounded by friends who, like me, were beginning our journeys to becoming "Scholars Transforming the Academy." Since then, I've made significant progress towards this goal as I not only received my Bachelor's degree from Spelman College in 2019 but also a Master's degree from Rutgers University in 2022. And I anticipate graduating with my Ph.D. in English Literature (also from Rutgers) next year! 

Currently, I am the 2025-2027 Thurgood Marshall Dissertation and Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of African and African American Studies at Dartmouth College. Additionally, I'm just as honored to be a 2025-2026 Association of American University Women Dissertation Fellow. Both of these fellowships are essential to my completion of my dissertation, which thinks about and theorizes black women's exhaustion alongside so many brilliant black women writers, teachers and scholars of the 20th and 21st century. After I complete my postdoctoral fellowship, I plan to enter the field of higher education as a Professor, where I hope to not only teach and mentor the next generation of students but also take on leadership roles within my institution of higher learning.  

LOOKING BACK, HOW DID THE SCHOLARSHIP SHAPE WHERE YOU ARE NOW? 

Receiving the Formation Scholarship years ago affirmed me on this path and not only gave me the confidence to continue to pursue my career goals but also the financial freedom to do so! That feeling is priceless and for that I'll always be grateful to THEE Beyoncé Knowles-Carter for her generosity and her unwavering belief in myself and the other scholarship recipients. Not many can say Queen Bey awarded them a BIG scholarship award and I'm honored to be in that number! Count me as a BeyHive member for life (but that was always the case which makes receiving the scholarship that much sweeter)!