The Story: (CNN) – A veteran House representative from Texas said she made a mistake when she awarded charitable scholarships to her family members instead of students in her district.
Johnson is accused of awarding scholarship money to her grandsons, David and Kirk Johnson, as well as the children of her Dallas district director, Rod Givens, last year. Each of the relatives were awarded two scholarships in the past year.
The Dallas Morning News newspaper reported that Johnson has awarded more than $25,000 in scholarships to two grandsons, two great-nephews and Givens' children in the past five years.
Johnson said her grandchildren were not instructed to lie on scholarship forms and indicate on the forms that they were not related to Johnson.
The Analysis: "Johnson said she was not aware of all the rules and said she was too busy with other activities to scrutinize the applications." Impossible being you at one time was a governing lawmaker. That's why you have personal and executive assistants. She also says that she has repaid all of the money. If her pockets are so deep, why didn't she just give that money to those students out her pocket from the beginning.
When it comes to scholarship monies, it should always be about the academic achievement and success of the student, especially at a time where college tuition is at a steady increase and because of the myth in many underrepresented communities that because you can't afford to pay for college, you can't attend.
Although what she did was unfair and unjustified, I wouldn't doubt that private scholarship organizations have been practicing this for years. It's all about your network. And sometimes that can work against you. Just ask Rep. Johnson.
good ole boys been doing it for years... but now it's NEWS!! ~smh
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