Category: General

Evan Harasty recently joined the Carson Scholars Fund as an Operations & Finance Assistant, where he works closely with the Executive Director to support organizational operations, financial processes, and day to day projects that help advance the mission of CSF. With a strong interest in data, analysis, and operational efficiency, he is enthusiastic about contributing […]

As we approach the season of giving, we’re reflecting on the power of community, generosity, and imagination to change lives. This year marks 30 years of awarding Carson Scholarships and 25 years of building Ben Carson Reading Rooms—three decades dedicated to nurturing bright minds and sparking a love of learning in students across the nation. […]

Grades 4-5: Every person leaves behind a story. Think of someone who has made a difference in your life or your community. What makes them special? How do they make the world better? What do you hope people remember about you and the kind things you do? If you could meet any character from a […]

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 […]