Scholarships
The Dr. Luther B. and Mrs. Claudia Adair Memorial Endowed Scholarship
Mental health issues affect all ethnicities, but there are only a few African-American neurologists, psychiatrists, and family medicine doctors specializing in mental health treatment. Increasing the number of African-American physicians to provide care for African-American patient populations is critical to create bonds of trust, rapport, and improve clinical outcomes. In light of these factors and the pandemic, the Adair Family Foundation is funding a $25,000 endowed scholarship at Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee, to address these issues - The Dr. Luther B. and Mrs. Claudia Adair Memorial Endowed Scholarship. The scholarship will be awarded annually to a student in good standing at Meharry that has expressed an interest in both practicing in the mental health arena and practicing medicine in Nashville, Tennessee.
Press release:
https://tntribune.com/adair-family-foundation-to-fund-endowed-scholarship/
The Dr. Luther Adair and Claudia Adair Memorial Book Scholarship
On April 3, 2015, the Adair family gathered to celebrate Luther B. Adair, Sr., MD's life achievements, contributions to medicine, and announce a scholarship to Meharry Medical College named in he and his wife's honor. Two of Dr. Adair's children, Luther B. Adair, II, MD and Candace B. Adair, MD, established the annual book scholarship to be awarded during Convocation to a deserving student. Having money to buy educational resources early on in the semester is so critical during the basic science curriculum. Taking out loans for this will compound debt later on and delay the ability of student to give back. The book scholarship is a way of easing the burden for a deserving student and hopefully giving them a small incentive to return the favor when they can.
The Office of Health Professions Summer Science Program @ Morehouse College - Atlanta, GA
Morehouse College has an outstanding history of producing health professionals. Among its alumni are more than one thousand physicians and dentists. The College is the number one producer of African-American male medical, dental and public health professional students in the nation. The Adair Family Foundation has supported Morehouse College's Office of Health Professions Summer Science Program since 2014.
Adair Family Foundation Establishes Endowed Scholarship at Morehouse College to Empower Future STEM Leaders
The Adair Family Foundation has established a $50,000 endowed scholarship at Morehouse College supporting undergraduate students in STEM fields.
The Adair Family Foundation is proud to announce the establishment of the Adair Family Foundation Endowed Scholarship Fund at Morehouse College. This permanent endowment, created through a $50,000 gift commitment, is designed to support the next generation of “Morehouse Men” by removing financial barriers to high-level academic achievement.
A Legacy of Opportunity
For the founders of the Adair Family Foundation, this scholarship is a deeply personal investment in the distributed brilliance of students who often lack equal access to opportunity. “As a physician and Morehouse alumnus, I recognize that brilliance is distributed equally, but opportunity is not,” said Dr. Luther B. Adair II, Founder of the Adair Family Foundation. “This endowment is about ‘buying back the future’ for students by removing the immediate financial hurdles that stand between a dream and a degree.”
Intended Recipients
The fund will provide critical financial support to talented and deserving undergraduate students at Morehouse College. Key criteria and preferences include:
• Academic Focus: Students pursuing degrees in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and
Mathematics) fields.
• Geographic Preference: Priority given to students from Las Vegas, Nevada; Nashville, Tennessee; or Upstate New York.
• Eligibility: Recipients must maintain a 3.5 GPA, demonstrate financial need, and embody the
“Morehouse Man” ethos of scholarly excellence, leadership, and service.
Foundations in Brotherhood and Mentorship
Dr. Adair’s commitment to Morehouse is rooted in his transformative experience as a student. He credits much of his success to the late Dean Thomas J. Blocker, a legendary mentor who served as a “massive force” in placing African-American men into medical schools. Dean Blocker’s belief in Dr. Adair’s potential — even during challenging academic periods — was instrumental in his journey to becoming a board-certified radiologist.
This legacy of excellence is a family tradition. Dr. Adair’s uncle, Dr. William G. Pickens, was the former Chair of the English Department at Morehouse College and a contemporary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. Pickens also has an endowed scholarship at Morehouse in his name, established by his wife, Dr. Ernestine Pickens-Glass, which continues to award annual support to deserving students.
About the Adair Family Foundation
The Adair Family Foundation is dedicated to building sustainable pipelines for success through STEM education, medical mentorship, and long-term family stewardship. With initiatives ranging
from the Las Vegas STEM Pipeline to supporting medical students’ emergency funds, the Foundation lives by its motto: Scientia sit Potentia (Knowledge is Power).
F.H. Jenkins Preparatory Academy Technology Initiative - Nashville, TN
F.H. Jenkins Prep is committed to providing educational experiences that will allow our scholars to be leaders in this 21st century world. A part of this learning experience is incorporating technology into daily learning experiences. The integration of technology into teaching and learning, provides scholars with hands-on experience with tools that are necessary for 21st century careers. The Adair Family Foundation has supported this initiative since 2016.
STEM NOLA (SN) - New Orleans, LA
STEM NOLA (SN) is an organization founded by New Orleans native, and former tenured Tulane University Engineering professor, Dr. Calvin Mackie. The purpose of its existence is to expose, inspire and engage members in the surrounding communities about the opportunities in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). The Adair Family Foundation has supported STEM Nola since 2015.
Springs Preserve
Commonly known as the "birthplace of Las Vegas," the Springs Preserve is a 180-acre cultural institution designed to commemorate Las Vegas' dynamic history and to provide a vision for a sustainable future. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1978, the site served as the original source of water for Native Americans living in the region thousands of years ago. In 1997, the Las Vegas Valley Water District Board of Directors approved a plan to develop a preserve to protect and manage the cultural, natural and water resources of the site, and the Springs Preserve opened to the public in June 2007. It is a great resource for STEAM activities in the Las Vegas area.
YES (Young Eisner Scholars)
We were introduced to the YES Program (which stands for Young Eisner Scholars) on Malcolm Gladwell’s Podcast, Revisionist History, through a vignette called “Carlos Doesn’t Remember”. The YES program helps to reshape the landscape of low-income communities by empowering underserved students to fulfill their greatest potential. YES Program has an unprecedented 95% college graduation rate from the best universities across America. They do this by actively participating in students lives from 6th grade through college graduation.
Las Vegas STEM Pipeline Initiative
The Las Vegas STEM Pipeline Initiative focuses on three key objectives to strengthen the region’s STEM ecosystem and address critical workforce needs, with the Nevada STEM Pathways platform serving as a cornerstone resource:
https://stempathways.epscorspo.nevada.edu/find-program/
1. Increase Access to STEM Opportunities
The initiative connects students from all backgrounds to hands-on STEM learning experiences, including workshops, summer camps, internships, and research opportunities. The Nevada STEM Pathways platform provides a comprehensive directory of these programs, making it easier for students and parents to discover and participate in activities that ignite curiosity and prepare them for in-demand STEM careers.
2. Support Educators and Community Leaders
Educators and community organizations are essential to cultivating a thriving STEM pipeline. The initiative empowers them through professional development workshops, curriculum resources, and grant opportunities, all accessible via the Nevada STEM Pathways platform. Additionally, it fosters collaborations with universities and industry partners to develop impactful programs and broaden outreach efforts.
3. Address the Healthcare Workforce Shortage through STEM
With Nevada facing a growing healthcare shortage, the initiative integrates STEM education with healthcare-focused programs to inspire and prepare the next generation of healthcare professionals. The Nevada STEM Pathways platform offers resources that connect students to careers in medical technology, nursing, biomedical research, and other critical healthcare fields. By fostering these connections, the initiative helps build a robust, skilled healthcare workforce to meet the state’s pressing needs.
These three goals collectively aim to create an inclusive, innovative, and future-ready STEM ecosystem in Las Vegas, preparing students to succeed while addressing critical workforce challenges in STEM and healthcare.