Our Story

CLEAR Core —Creating Leaders by Empowering Area Residents—is a 501 9(c)(3) that expands educational access for students who will uplift their communities.


We're led by an all-volunteer Board of Directors, mostly retired educators with deep roots in Lafayette County. Their decades of experience and passion drive our mission forward.


Why It Matters

Lafayette County has over 55,000 residents, with 14% living in poverty. Education is the key to raising household incomes and opening doors to opportunity.

How You Can Help

  • Make a tax-deductible donation

  • Partner with us for internships or mentorship

  • Volunteer to support our mission

CLEAR Core is committed to equal opportunity and offers programs without regard to race, color, religion, creed, age, disability, national origin, or genetic information.

Together, we can change lives—one student at a time. Because some dreams can’t wait.

FAQ

Board of Directors

President
Eulastine M. Thompson

Vice President
Valerie W. Morgan

Secretary
Martha Shaw

Assistant Secretary
Shirley Carothers

Treasurer
Osborne D. Burks, Jr

Scholarship Chairperson
Erma Carter

Financial Coordinator
Glarretter Carter-Burks

Public Relations
Regina Carter-Bernard

Community Services
Sue Cook

Decorating Committee
Angelia Tyson

Advisors
John Swinney, Co-Founder

In Memoriam: Mrs. Geardie Carter, Co-Founder

Members

Betty Carothers
Belvia Carter
Frances Gordon
Relva Hairston
Vickie Vaughn
Ava Jackson
Marilyn Robinson
Dr. James & Delores Herod
Thelma Willingham
Lou Woodall
Beverly Brown
Hattie Simmons

past scholars

  • Jennifer McCoy
    Kimiranda Vaughn

  • Kristina Holman

  • Raven Buford
    Curtis Minton
    Cecilia Turner

  • Kevin Holmes
    LaShaun Martin
    Natalie Stills

  • Tiffine Armstrong
    Afra Hamid
    Jonathan Henderson
    Jane-Marie Nelson

  • Travis Cox
    Avishek Ghosh
    Shannon Hoskins
    Kelly Dawn James
    Kenaz “Shun” Wortham

  • Amanda King
    Brandon Morgan
    Jamie Nelson
    Kimberly Thompson
    Tacarra Toles
    Raphael Woodall

  • Moronica Eggerson
    John Falkner
    Jeanette Fondren
    Alex Littlejohn
    Joseph Wilson

  • Ann Marie Garrett
    Whitney Dionne Joy
    Phillip Rogers

  • Paula Kate Bullard
    Kristen L. Fondren
    Zedrick Demonz Fondren
    Ta-Kara Johnson
    Christina A. Mullin
    Jessica D. Wooldridge

  • Richard D. Brown
    Sheza Khalid
    Brittany Mathis
    Jeffrey Phillips

  • Caleb Herod
    Kelsey D. Malone
    Margaret “Erin” Snellgrove
    Amanda N. J. Woodall

  • Justin Smith
    Robin Nicole Thweatt
    Jameshia Westbrook

  • Samantha Demi Carothers
    Calvin D’Wayne Shaw
    Hannah Patrice Spears

  • Keyanna Cherell Blackmon
    Jacqueline Re’Anna Chatman
    Madelynne Nicole Gaines
    Johnathan Antonyo Rosser
    Theronica Nichelle Woods

  • Mariah Danielle Hairston
    Victoria Morgan Miller
    Megan Shafarri Norphflet
    Joseph Anthony Reed

  • Ieshea Monique Richardson
    Lebresha Danyel Slate
    Nathan Bernard Dunn
    Lynley-Love Jones

  • Ashley Latrice Carter
    Kendall Reed Jenkins
    Candice Gabriella Mosqueda
    Taylor “Code” Smith
    Jalailhia Markeia Tyson
    Jessica Chantel Sawyer

  • Desirae Natecia Gladney
    Danny Clinton Hickey
    Randon Raquel Hill
    Tony Terrell Holland

  • Elisha Jenae Webb
    James Theopolis Vinson
    Mario Orlando Hervey II
    Lindsey Marie Lott
    Corley Beth Davis

  • Nicholas Chanler McGlown
    Tyanna Janae Harbin
    Jacob Thomas Sandlin
    McKenzie Morgan Tyler

  • DeChristian Bernard Cummings
    Kerria Lashae Dixon
    Tajah Brianna McCullough
    Cemiah Layonette McGee
    Aleah Rayshell Parks
    Ashley D. Pettis
    Williams D. Alexander Woodall
    Jalon Kershun Young

  • Ben Harper
    Jamie Shaw Jr.
    Khyan Freelon
    Daphne Mathis
    Caleb Lafferty

  • Sa’Maria Ta’Mil Jones
    Kiyon Armon Williams
    Tyler Jamal Williams
    Jalen Carlshun Southern
    Jalen Jeremiah Wilson
    Aaliyah Nicole Bishop
    Kimaya Nashae Dixon
    Benjamin Welsey Adams

  • Christian Quinn-Maronye’ Blake
    James Ferrill Irby
    Nasia Joy Thompson
    Brendan Christopher Toles
    Emari Woodall

  • Kirsten Booker
    Jessica Brazell
    Kalvia Caldwell
    Jacquez Elliot
    Benjamin Fisher
    Anna Lafferty
    Liana Logan
    Kaliah McJunkins
    Laila Owens
    Kewun Rockette
    Madison Thompson
    Xavier Wallace
    Gabriel Zinn

  • Roman Gregory
    Jacob Marsh
    Destiny Frieson
    Fikir Beyene

  • Jorian Shaw
    Addysen Rutledge
    Jamari Moore
    Kaitlyn Urbanek
    Kode Jones
    Madyson Price
    Benjamin Campbell
    Madison Smith

  • Abbie L. Britt
    Eli T. Pegues
    Malachi S. Boles
    Akiyah V. Vaughn
    Akevia L. Hilliard
    Mariah L. Thompson
    Kamari D. Jones
    Steven L. Wilkins
    Reed F. Ussery
    Alexis S. Ivy
    Paul A. James

  • One-Time $500 Award Funded by Van Wortham

    Brandon Charles Mack
    LeCamarion Pettis
    Kewuan Owens
    Brittany Tyson
    RaShun Delaine Rockette
    Corey Williams

FAQs

  • CLEAR Core, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded to help college-bound students from Lafayette County, MS.

    We provide direct monetary aid and mentorship for students entering college or vocational programs.

  • Our mission is to Create Leaders by Empowering Area Residents by expanding educational access and investing in future leaders who will uplift their communities.

    Through scholarships & mentorship, we equip students with the tools to pursue higher education, increase economic mobility, and create lasting change.

  • Since its founding, CLEAR Core, Inc. has awarded over $500,000 in scholarships, helping more than 140 students stay in school and graduate—with an 80%+ graduation rate.

    Our scholars have pursued careers in education, healthcare, law, business, forestry, journalism, agriculture, engineering, pharmacy, IT, and more!

    They have attended top institutions such as:

    Alcorn State University
    Jackson State University
    Vanderbilt University
    University of Mississippi
    Mississippi State University
    Clemson University
    Tuskegee University
    Mississippi Valley State University
    University of Southern Mississippi
    Northwest Community College
    and many others.

  • CLEAR Core is managed by a team of dedicated volunteers from Lafayette County, MS, and other surrounding counties.

    These are unpaid roles, with over 95% of donations going directly to students and less than 5% covering essential operating expenses.

  • In 1997, Mrs. Geardie Carter had a vision: to create a scholarship that ensured financial hardship would never stand in the way of a student’s education. She knew this struggle firsthand.

    When she started college in the 1940s, she ran out of money. There was an unexpected fee: $5. She didn’t have it and feared having to drop out.

    But her church came together to help, and she never forgot their generosity.

    To pay it forward, she partnered with local leader and former educator, Mr. John Swinney, to award the 1st CLEAR Core, Inc. scholarships.

  • Each year, at least four students are selected as CLEAR Core, Inc. Scholars, receiving $1,000 annually for four years, totaling $4,000.Item description

  • 95%+ of your donation goes directly to student scholarships, covering tuition, fees, books, and other essentials.

    <5% supports minimal operating costs to keep our programs running.

applicant FAQs

  • CLEAR Core, Inc. scholarships are awarded based on academic promise and a commitment to community. A volunteer committee of local leaders carefully selects recipients. We seek students who are determined to succeed and create a better future.

  • Application Timeline:

    • Opens: January each year

    • Deadline: March 1 at 11:59 p.m. CST

    • Apply online during second semester of senior year

    • Late or paper applications not accepted

    Requirements:

    • Must use Gmail account (create one if needed) to complete application online

    • All correspondence sent via email

    Supporting Documents:

    • Mail transcripts and letters of recommendation (postmarked by March 1, 2025) to:

      CLEAR Core Academic Scholarship Committee
      ATTN: Ms. Erma L. Carter P.O. Box 40901
      Memphis, TN
      38174

    Questions:

    • Call Ms. Erma L. Carter at (901) 262-5953

  • Scholarship funds are given directly to the students.

  • Any Lafayette County student who:

    • Attended Lafayette or Oxford High School since the first semester of junior year

    • Will graduate in the spring of senior year

    • Plan to enroll full-time at an accredited U.S. two or four-year college

    • A documented U.S. resident

  • Each year, at least four students are selected as CLEAR Core, Inc. Scholars, receiving $1,000 annually for four years, totaling $4,000.

    1. Taxes on awards are the recipient’s responsibility.

    2. The recipient agrees to CLEAR Core, Inc.’s final decisions.

    3. The recipient grants CLEAR Core, Inc. permission to use their name, essay, and/or likeness for promotional purposes.

    4. CLEAR Core, Inc. is released from any claims arising from the scholarship.

    5. One scholarship per household per four years.

    6. Scholarship award is subject to verification of enrollment.

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