Welcome back to the Scholarship Mindset series on the LITE It Up Podcast! In this week’s episode, we sit down with Kevin Coy, Post-Secondary Counselor at Homewood-Flossmoor High School, to break down what students and families really need to know about the scholarship and college admissions process.With 25+ years of experience in counseling, admissions, and college planning, Kevin shares insider strategies that help students stay organized, build stronger applications, and work more effectively with their school counselors. Whether you're a parent, high school student, educator, or community advocate, this episode offers clear steps to help you navigate scholarships with confidence.✨ What You’ll Learn in This Episode:How to work with your school or post-secondary counselor during the scholarship processThe best ways for students to stay organized from freshman to senior yearPractical tips to strengthen scholarship and college applicationsHow counselors view essays, activities, and student readinessCommon mistakes families make (and how to avoid them)Action steps students can take TODAY to increase scholarship opportunities🎓 About the Scholarship Mindset SeriesNovember is Scholarship Awareness Month, and all month long we’re sharing real-world strategies, expert insights, and powerful stories to help families reduce college costs and build a strong scholarship plan.

If you missed the first episodes—our series kickoff and the conversation with Nicole Brookens of PLAN4Success—be sure to go back and watch so you don’t miss any tools or tips.🔥 Stay Connected👉🏾 If you found this episode helpful, LIKE this video.👉🏾 SHARE it with a student, parent, or educator who needs this information.👉🏾 SUBSCRIBE to the channel and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode.🎧 New episodes drop every Tuesday at 7:00 AM.Let’s continue building the Scholarship Mindset—and LITE It Up! 🔥Visit the website: www.aginahmuhammad.com

In this episode of LITE It Up, Dr. Aginah Musherah sits down with Nicole Brookens, Executive Director of PLAN4Success, for a powerful and practical conversation designed to help families take immediate action in the scholarship application process.Nicole breaks down the essential strategies every family needs—from organizing critical documents and building a competitive student profile to tracking deadlines and writing compelling essays. Together, they share real, actionable tips that students and parents can use right now to approach scholarships with clarity, confidence, and purpose.If you’re supporting a student through the college-going process—or if you’re a student who wants to secure scholarships—this episode will help you shift your mindset, get organized, and unlock scholarship success.Connect with PLAN4Success: https://www.plan-4success.orgConnect with Dr. Aginah Musherah: https://www.aginahmuhammad.comLITE It Up is available on all streaming platforms including Apple Podcasts, iHeart Radio, and Spotify.

In this solo episode of LITE It Up, Dr. Aginah Musherah kicks off National Scholarship Month with an inspirational and practical conversation designed especially for parents, students, and anyone committed to expanding educational access.

With three students currently enrolled at North Carolina A&T State University, Dr. Aginah Musherah knows firsthand that scholarships are not simply awards — they are strategy, discipline, organization, and mindset. Scholarships aren’t accidental; they are intentional. In her home, they are part of the plan — not a last-minute hope.

Drawing from personal experience as a parent and her professional background in higher education leadership, Dr. Aginah shares simple, actionable steps families can take today to begin the scholarship journey with confidence and purpose. She sheds light on the realities of applying for scholarships — the rejections, the persistence, and the systems needed to stay committed — while reminding listeners that debt-free degrees are possible with preparation and support.

Whether you're raising a future college student, currently navigating the college process, or mentoring a young scholar, this episode offers encouragement, clarity, and a roadmap to begin building a scholarship-focused mindset rooted in access, financial responsibility, and generational uplift.

✨ This Month on LITE It Up

This episode launches a month-long series celebrating National Scholarship Month, dedicated to empowering families with information, tools, and inspiration to make college more affordable and accessible.

Here are scholarship providers you should access to begin the process:

Scholarship America: https://scholarshipamerica.org

Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF): https://tmcf.org/scholarships/

United Negro College Fund (UNCF): https://uncf.org/scholarships

Stay tuned all month for tips, resources, and insights to support debt-free college journeys.

🎧 Connect & Continue the Journey

If this episode motivated you, helped you reframe the scholarship process, or gave you tools to begin, share it with a parent, student, educator, or mentor who needs it.

Let’s support the next generation as they dream, plan, and pursue excellence — without lifelong debt.

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Together, we light the path toward possibility, preparation, and debt-free degrees.

Visit Dr. Aginah Musherah's website: www.aginahmuhammad.com