Pelicans' CJ McCollum Announces Scholarship Program for New Orleans HS Students

CJ McCollum is doing what he can for children looking to continue their education in the New Orleans area.

As Marc J. Spears of Andscape detailed, the New Orleans Pelicans guard announced the formation of the McCollum Scholars Program, which will work with College Beyond to provide four-year, need-based $80,000 college scholarships to 10 Pell Grant eligible students from New Orleans high schools.

College Beyond is a scholarship program that helps students in underserved communities.

"We all come from different circumstances, different situations, but college is expensive," McCollum said.

"A lot of times, your neighborhood, your upbringing and where you're from dictates your ability to do what you want to do. A lot of times, historically, we do what we have to do. But we don't always get to do what we want to do. In this case, I'm in position, my family is in position to ease the burden on a lot of kids and a lot of families and that's the ultimate goal."

In addition to the scholarship, the students will receive a year of counseling to prepare for college as seniors in high school and then be offered individual check-ins during college with academic coaches, mental wellness resources, internship placement opportunities and more.

The Pelicans traded for McCollum during the 2021-22 season, and he has wasted no time impacting the community off the court. Spears noted he visited incarcerated teenagers at the Juvenile Justice Intervention Center, worked with the Boys & Girls Club, and passed out Thanksgiving meals.