Financial barriers are not the only things that can prevent someone from pursuing their college dreams. Sometimes, it’s because they do not feel like they are “college material.”
Grand Rapids Junior College (GRJC) alumnus and GRCC donor Henderson knows what this feels like. But now, he’s hoping a new scholarship will help future students feel like college is a place where they can grow and explore their passions.
Henderson attended GRJC from 1961 to 1963. Receiving a scholarship during his second year was much more than just a big financial help. It boosted his confidence and helped him feel like he belonged after all.
“I was often the only Black kid in class,” said Henderson. “This scholarship really encouraged me. I distinctly remember receiving the best grade in class on a very hard chemistry test. That was the moment I realized I was college material and that I belonged here. I felt respected and I really needed to feel that.”
After attending GRJC, Henderson went on to the University of Michigan and earned his BA and MD. He practiced medicine for over fifty years, first in general practice and then in emergency medicine. He has volunteered in Nicaragua and worked for the last 12 years at the Hope Clinic in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Henderson is also the author of several essays, editorials and a novel, Light in Winter: A Mama's Prayer.
Henderson started the Josephine Henderson Heritage Fund in 1999 as a way to honor his mother and support students from underrepresented backgrounds. This scholarship is awarded to two students from Ottawa Hills High School who will attend GRCC. It prioritizes workforce development programs like construction, applied technology, culinary arts, automotive and nursing.
“I was a poor Black kid and a scholarship boosted my confidence in my abilities,” said Henderson. “Now, I want to help others like myself. A scholarship focused on the trades will be helpful to those who want non-academic work.”
The fund is named for Henderson’s mother, who faced her own share of hardships as a single mother of seven. She worked a factory job to provide for her family and earned her GED after her children grew up and left home.
“Mom will be most remembered for her determination and selflessness in raising her family,” said Henderson. “She always said that when God gives you more than you need, the extra is for giving back. GRCC is a good place to give back because of the opportunities it offers and the difference it makes in people’s lives.”
This story was republished from GRCC's 2023-24 Foundation Annual Report.