The 2026 Brandon Hendricks Scholarship is now open to Bronx high school seniors preparing to attend college, offering $20,000 in financial support. The scholarship honors the late Brandon Hendricks, a promising basketball player and recent high school graduate who was fatally shot in 2020, and continues his legacy of academic achievement and community engagement.
Brandon Hendricks, 17, was killed by a stray bullet during a barbecue shortly after graduating from James Monroe High School. The perpetrator, Najhim Luke, was convicted of manslaughter and illegal possession of a firearm, bringing a measure of justice to Hendricks’ family after nearly three years of legal proceedings. In the wake of his death, Hendricks’ mother, Eve Hendricks, became a leading advocate against gun violence and has campaigned for “Brandon’s Law,” legislation aimed at limiting trial delays caused by mental health claims.
In 2021, the Bronx Rising initiative established the Brandon Hendricks Scholarship to support students pursuing higher education. The program selects participants who share a commitment to improving their communities, reflecting the values Hendricks exemplified during his life. In addition, Hendricks’ contributions to the Bronx are commemorated through a street renaming at 156th Street and Park Avenue, now called Brandon Hendricks-Ellison Boulevard, and ongoing community events in his honor.
The 2026 scholarship cycle opened on December 17, 2025, and will remain accepting applications until March 31, 2026. Applications are reviewed in April, with recipients notified in May. Interested students can apply through the OYATE Group website, which provides full details on eligibility, submission requirements, and deadlines. The scholarship seeks to support students at a critical stage in their academic journey, enabling them to pursue college opportunities and contribute positively to their communities.
For more information or to submit an application, visit https://oyategroup.org/brandon-hendricks-scholarship/2026-application/.
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