IBF ANNOUNCES 2021 SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS

The Isaac Bruce Foundation has announced the winners of the 2021 Isaac Bruce Foundation Scholarships in St. Louis and Fort Lauderdale.  The St. Louis scholarship in the amount of $5,000 presented by Ameren Corporation was awarded to Lauryn Bonner of Metro Academic & Classical High School.  The St. Louis scholarship is funded in part by Ameren Corporation’s AmerenCares program. Another St. Louis area scholarship in the amount of $2,500 was awarded to Jacqueline Bownes of East St. Louis High School. A Fort Lauderdale scholarship in the amount of $2,500 was awarded to Shakira Chery of Coconut Creek High School of Broward County Public Schools. 

Bruce started the scholarship program in St. Louis in 2008 after playing for the St. Louis Rams for 14 seasons.  He then expanded the program in 2009 to include his hometown of Fort Lauderdale and the college in which he earned his degree, the University of Memphis.  Lauryn Bonner and Jacqueline Bownes were selected from a competitive applicant pool of applications from St. Louis area high schools.  Bonner will be attending Howard University next year and Bownes will be heading to Fisk University in Nashville. The Fort Lauderdale scholarship is targeted at graduating seniors from Broward County Public Schools, his former high school district.  The winner of that scholarship, Shakira Chery, will be attending Florida State this fall.  

In order to apply for the scholarships, students must be college bound high school senior and must have minimum cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 (on a 4.0 scale).  The application included a typewritten personal essay (500 words or less) on “How the Isaac Bruce Foundation Scholarship Will Assist Me in Fulfilling My College Goals”, student biography, academic record of achievement, personal recommendation from two sources, and proof of acceptance and enrollment at an accredited college or vocational school.

As a senior at Dillard High School in Florida, Isaac Bruce was active in his community and school.  His grades were not high enough to qualify for most scholarships but he knew he wanted to further his education.  He attended West Los Angeles College and Santa Monica College before transferring to Memphis State in 1992 on a football scholarship and went on to have a successful career.  

Bruce epitomizes greatness both on and off the field.  Between the lines, the wide receiver is a Pro Football Hall of Famer, gaining more than 15,000 receiving yards and scoring 91 touchdowns during his 14 seasons with the Rams and two seasons with the San Francisco 49ers.  He retired as No. 2 all-time on the NFL Receiving Yards list and No. 5 on the NFL Receptions list. His number 80 was retired by the Rams in 2010 and he was elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2020. He launched the Isaac Bruce Foundation in 2006 which focuses on health, wellness, nutrition, fitness and education.  Through the Foundation, Bruce reaches out to youth and teaches them at an early age the importance of a healthy lifestyle with an emphasis on education.