P. Diddy Combs' son wins $54K college scholarship

[Hannathy]

I can't believe so many of you think schools are handing out $50,000 scholarships on a 3.75! Really?
It is a football scholarship plain and simple. I'm sure there are hundreds if not thousands at that school with a 3.75 or higher that got nothing.

And seeing that he probably spends more on an evening out then yes I think the "right" thing to do would be to not take the money. He could be proud of the award and decline the monetary part of it.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

I can't believe so many of you think schools are handing out $50,000 scholarships on a 3.75! Really?
It is a football scholarship plain and simple. I'm sure there are hundreds if not thousands at that school with a 3.75 or higher that got nothing.

And seeing that he probably spends more on an evening out then yes I think the "right" thing to do would be to not take the money. He could be proud of the award and decline the monetary part of it.

Actually sounds more like a "scholar - athlete" type of thing. There are a lot of awards (scholarships included) that require a combination of athletic prowess & academics. I managed to eek one out myself, although I don't exactly know how (my academics were WAY better than my athletics ).

 

[doris1976]

Good for him. Nice to see someone actually earn what they have instead of it being given to them.

 

[LisaR]

Actually sounds more like a "scholar - athlete" type of thing. There are a lot of awards (scholarships included) that require a combination of athletic prowess & academics. I managed to eek one out myself, although I don't exactly know how (my academics were WAY better than my athletics ).

While there are certainly highly intelligent athletes in this world, we tend to allow some athletes to slide on their academics as long as their athletic skills are up to snuff. I'm guessing this scholarship was made for the specific purpose of encouraging athletes to have better grades. No, a 3.75 is far from top notch but in terms of the incoming football players that applied for it, I'm guessing it was pretty decent.

 

[sissy_ib]

Actually, you're both only partially correct. What matters is how you file your taxes. If the parents are still claiming the child as a dependent, then yes you are correct. But, if not then it is the student's income level that matters, not that of the parents.

This is not true, at least it was not about 5-6 years ago. At 23, living in a different state from my parents, I would have had to include their income information. I was told it was needed until I was 25!

 

[Hannathy]

This is not true, at least it was not about 5 years ago. At 24, living in a different state from my parents, I would have had to include their income information.

I agree, it isn't as easy as just not filing as a dependent.

 

[allison443]

Actually, you're both only partially correct. What matters is how you file your taxes. If the parents are still claiming the child as a dependent, then yes you are correct. But, if not then it is the student's income level that matters, not that of the parents.

There are very limited circumstances where parents' income is not taken into account for the FAFSA. Not claiming the child as a dependent on taxes, in and of itself, is not one of those circumstances.

 

[disykat]

To be fair he did have a decent GPA but we also don't know based on what and with what courses, and it was a football scholarship, lets not forget that. There is no way he would have got 54,000 just on a 3.75 so it was a football based scholarship.

Agreed. I don't mind scholarships that are based on talent/merit, but the newspaper acting like this was an academic award was really irritating me! Major universities don't give out full rides for a 3.75 GPA! (I wish they did. It could be saving me a whole lot of money!)

 

[ladypage]

Actually, you're both only partially correct. What matters is how you file your taxes. If the parents are still claiming the child as a dependent, then yes you are correct. But, if not then it is the student's income level that matters, not that of the parents.

Not true. I've been filing independently from my parents for two years, but it doesn't matter when it comes to my FAFSA. I don't qualify for anything because of my parents.

As for the son having the scholarship, I agree, it's foolish to accept it, IMO. P. Diddy has more than enough to pay for his college, and if he can afford to buy a $360,000 (nope, no typos!) for his 16th birthday, he can afford to pay for his college.

I'm very curious if this was a blind scholarship, or if they knew who they were giving it to. If he did really earn it, good for him! But I have serious doubts honestly. Accepting him and giving him this scholarship would be very good publicity (for donors) wise, and would potentially add P. Diddy as a donor himself.

 

[Schmeck]

Actually, you're both only partially correct. What matters is how you file your taxes. If the parents are still claiming the child as a dependent, then yes you are correct. But, if not then it is the student's income level that matters, not that of the parents.

FAFSA requires parental income, no matter if you claim the child as a dependent or not. Every school my daughters applied to required parental income. Every financial statement from the schools included Expected Family Contribution.

I think it's time to remove money making sports from colleges - we don't have Microsoft sports teams, GE teams, Apple teams, etc, do we? Why not have academic teams that compete against each other? Sure, have your sports games, but no charge for entry, no scholarships, etc. Make them all club sports.

 

[becpee]

The ones complaining would be the people whose kids didn't work hard enough to earn the scholarship...

 

[mhsjax]

I can't believe so many of you think schools are handing out $50,000 scholarships on a 3.75! Really?
It is a football scholarship plain and simple. I'm sure there are hundreds if not thousands at that school with a 3.75 or higher that got nothing.

And seeing that he probably spends more on an evening out then yes I think the "right" thing to do would be to not take the money. He could be proud of the award and decline the monetary part of it.

I wish they did, I have 3 that need to go. The oldest just finished his freshman year at HS and he has higher than a 3.75 and I KNOW that he won't be getting a full ride on that, he can't even get into certain universities around here with that, way to competitive.

 

[disney4us2002]

I wish they did, I have 3 that need to go. The oldest just finished his freshman year at HS and he has higher than a 3.75 and I KNOW that he won't be getting a full ride on that, he can't even get into certain universities around here with that, way to competitive.

Isn't FL one of those states that tuition is free if you maintain a 3.5 or better in HS? Maryland doesn't have that but one of my friends seriously considered FL as a relocation since she read about the tuition at state schools (that wasn't her only reason). I think she said it came from lottery money??

 

[mhsjax]

Isn't FL one of those states that tuition is free if you maintain a 3.5 or better in HS? Maryland doesn't have that but one of my friends seriously considered FL as a relocation since she read about the tuition at state schools (that wasn't her only reason). I think she said it came from lottery money??

No not free, we do have Bright Futures it is based on grades and has 3 tiers, but it in no way pays 100%. It does come from the lottery, problem is, now everyone is going to college on this and some are saying that it actually may not even be around much longer, who knows. But 100% I wish. I have heard that GA does this, but it could be the same situation as us, people hear that but it isn't true.

Average per class is $298 at a lower level college,(Jr college) Bright Futures pays 186, this is the top level.

 

[Jennasis]

No not free, we do have Bright Futures it is based on grades and has 3 tiers, but it in no way pays 100%. It does come from the lottery, problem is, now everyone is going to college on this and some are saying that it actually may not even be around much longer, who knows. But 100% I wish. I have heard that GA does this, but it could be the same situation as us, people hear that but it isn't true.

Average per class is $298 at a lower level college,(Jr college) Bright Futures pays 186, this is the top level.

My cousins both attended college in GA on that program. I don't recall what their GPA had to be, but they were given scholarships to state colleges based on it.

 

[EPCOTatNight]

Instead of being "outraged" about a $54,000 scholarship, people should be questioning the millions that the coach makes. How many kids could go to school with that money? And I'm pretty sure UCLA will get that back and then some from Justin or Diddy in the future.

 

[marcyinPA]

Good for him! That kid earned it with his hard work, his dad just happens to be rich. I do think it would be a nice gesture for his father to either offer to pay the tuition himself or to donate a matching amount to a scholarship fund. But I would not look down on him in anyway if he didn't and it certainly does not make me look down on this seemingly hard working young man.

That's what I was thinking too.

 

[SaraJayne]

Actually, you're both only partially correct. What matters is how you file your taxes. If the parents are still claiming the child as a dependent, then yes you are correct. But, if not then it is the student's income level that matters, not that of the parents.

Thank you for the correction. Though I would guess it's pretty rare for a college student to not be claimed on their parent's taxes.

 

[MUFFYCAT]

Good for him! That kid earned it with his hard work, his dad just happens to be rich. I do think it would be a nice gesture for his father to either offer to pay the tuition himself or to donate a matching amount to a scholarship fund. .

after reading the responses to the article where someone said Denzel Washington refused a scholarship for his son, P.Diddy should donate the amount the fund.

No wonder I always liked Denzel.

 

[LisaR]

Instead of being "outraged" about a $54,000 scholarship, people should be questioning the millions that the coach makes. How many kids could go to school with that money? And I'm pretty sure UCLA will get that back and then some from Justin or Diddy in the future.

My outrage is saved for the entire athletic program at most schools. A scholarship for one kid is hardly a blip on my radar.