HAYDEN, BUTLER, AND LOVETT FOUNDATION, INC.

Hayden, Butler, and Lovett Foundation, Inc. (“HBLF”), a 501(c)(3) organization incorporated in the State of Georgia, governs and operates the Lovett Scholarship Program and Lovett Scholarship, including serving as the fiscal agent.

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The late Judge Willie J. Lovett, Jr. (a Presiding Judge of the Fulton County Juvenile Court from 2013 until January 30, 2017) was passionate about education and championing the well-being of children and youth. His untimely death left a huge void and his family, friends and church searching for ways to carry forward his passion.

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Attorney Seletha Butler, his widow, recalls her personal memories, “Willie was an accomplished man with many passions. His family, Impact Church, support of youth programs and his commitment to impressing upon children and youth the value of education were at the top of his list. A scholarship program involving those elements is a natural fit to carry forth the legacy of his life and work.”

 

The mission of the Judge Willie J. Lovett, Jr. Scholarship Program (the “Lovett Scholarship Program”) is twofold. On the demand side, The Lovett Scholarship Program, through the Judge Willie J. Lovett, Jr. Scholarship (the “Lovett Scholarship”), provides scholarship funds for a deserving candidate toward his or her higher education costs (an award of $3,000 per academic year for up to four years of undergraduate course work at a four-year private or public U.S. accredited college or university). Equally important, the Lovett Scholarship Program looks to tackle some of the supply side issues for higher education—pipeline and readiness—by educating young people about access to higher education and impressing upon them the value of and ability to obtain a quality higher education.

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Butler further mentions that “Willie relished his role as a mentor to young people. In collaboration with partners, the Lovett Scholarship Program aims to continue his mission by providing educational and training programs to help reduce educational inequality in children and youth.”

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Since its inception in 2017, the Lovett Scholarship Program has awarded nine scholarships.

 

Victoria Lamar, who attended the University of San Francisco then Georgia State University, received the inaugural award in 2018. In 2019, the Scholarship Program made two awards—Nina Giddens, who attended Xavier University of Louisiana and was Miss Xavier, and Alexis Williamson, who attended Duke University and is now at Columbia Law School. Chasidy Moore is the 2020 Lovett Scholarship recipient, and she is a 2020 graduate of Valdosta High School in Valdosta. Ms. Moore attended Kennesaw University and was in its Honors Program. 

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Aniyah Stevenson is the 2022 Lovett Scholarship recipient, and she's a graduate of Alfred Ely Beach High School, which is Judge Lovett's alma mater. Like Judge Lovett, Ms. Stevenson was Valedictorian of her Beach High School class. She attends Augusta University.

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In 2023 three awards were made - Eden Langley, a graduate of Midtown High School and attends Howard University, Olufemi (Jude) Ogundipe, a graduate of St. Mary's Academy and attends Morehouse College, and Benjamin Harper, a graduate of Charles R. Drew Charter School and attends Morehouse College. 

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Simone Walker is the 2024 Lovett Scholarship recipient, and she's a graduate of Dutchtown High School and attends Alabama State University.

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Each Lovett Scholarship recipient as of date has met the academic performance and 20 hours of volunteer work requirements for renewal of the Lovett Scholarship for the next academic year.

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Historically, the Lovett Scholarship was open to any applicant residing in and attending a high school in the states of Georgia or Alabama for twelve (12) continuous months prior to May of the application deadline year (subject to other qualifications). The 2020 Lovett Scholarship was designated for an individual currently or formerly in the foster care system, which the Lovett Scholarship Program felt would be ideal to honor Judge Lovett’s child welfare and juvenile justice work prior to and as a Presiding Judge with the Fulton County Juvenile Court. There also was a designation in 2022 (Alfred Ely Beach High School, Savannah, Georgia) and 2026 (Choctaw County High School, Butler, Alabama) and will be for 2027 (Alfred Ely Beach High School, Savannah, Georgia).