Category: General

I am so excited to join the Carson Scholars Fund as an intern this summer! As a 4-time Carson Scholar, I have seen the program’s transformative impact on the lives of young students. It has opened doors for me to pursue higher education and academic opportunities. I am also beyond grateful that the program now […]

I grew up in Bel Air, Maryland. I am currently a rising senior majoring in marketing with a minor in Japanese at Towson University. I’m also honored to be a Carson Scholar, which reflects my commitment to both academic excellence and giving back to my community, something that’s very important to me. Outside of school, […]

The ancient proverb, “many hands make light work”, was on full display at Calvary Christian School in Bellfontaine, Ohio as a group of dedicated volunteers worked to bring the Ben Carson Reading Room to fruition. Jennifer Wylie spearheaded the project. Mrs. Wylie is no stranger to the CSF’s literacy program. She spent most of her […]

Reading is a skill that improves with practice. Like any daunting task, reading must be performed regularly to sustain and experience growth. Yet, each year, thousands of budding readers close their books at the end of the school year, without picking up a book over the long summer months. “Summer slide” is the loss of […]

This year, the Ben Carson Reading Project hit a huge milestone, and we celebrated it the best way we know how… with reading! In honor of the program’s 25th anniversary, CSF launched its very first Readathon. Beginning on March 3, 2025, schools competed over a six-week period to log the most minutes read in their […]

The Patterson HBCU Scholarship started in 2024 as a collaboration between world-renowned author James Patterson and the Carson Scholars Fund (CSF). Through Mr. Patterson’s generosity and shared educational values, the CSF was able to create a new unique opportunity for Carson Scholars attending a Historically Black College or University (HBCU). In the inaugural year, nine […]

. . . Tony Rose, MBA, CMA Chief Financial Officer Hydrovac Holdings, Inc.       Can you share a bit about your professional background and your current role?   I grew up as a farm kid.  When the doctor told me that I needed to find a career sitting on my butt due to serious […]

Isaac Olvera is a 2-time Carson Scholar who continues to excel year after year. Isaac, an exceptional student from Riverside, California, is fascinated with the way the heart works and aspires to become a cardiothoracic surgeon one day to help society by preventing and treating heart disease. While only in 10th grade, his stellar abilities […]

The Ben Carson Reading Project is soaring to new heights with the grand opening of Oregon’s first reading room at Hamlin Middle School in Springfield on December 6, 2024. This marks an exciting milestone, bringing the total number of reading rooms to 296 across 24 states and Washington, DC! The Hamlin Middle School reading room […]

The Ben Carson Reading Project is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year! In honor of this celebration, the program is getting a whole new look. Our new logo reflects our ongoing commitment to inspiring and empowering young readers across the nation. This exciting change marks a new chapter in our journey, and we are thrilled […]

Throughout 2024, the Carson Scholars Fund focused on growth – empowering minds, growing our community and cultivating success. As we reflect on this past year, we are pleased to share our progress in each area. The 2024 scholarship season, following the theme of growth, honored 570 new and 936 recognized scholars. This marked our largest […]

A reading room is more than just a cozy place to read. It’s designed to spark innovative and aspirational thinking in young children. This space encourages students to think for themselves and explore a world of possibilities through the pages of a book. Pat Davis was one of those students who found inspiration in his […]