5 HBCU Students Win Fitness Industry Scholarships

Matrix Fitness just announced five recipients of its 2025/2026 Project COURAGE scholarships, giving HBCU students and professionals a powerful boost into the fitness and recreation industry. Each scholarship covers conference registration, travel, and lodging for major industry events where recipients connect with leaders and learn about career opportunities.

The winners include Carmell Sanders from Texas Southern University, Chaz Mackey from Delaware State University, Jared Raysor from North Carolina A&T State University, Wesley Davis from Delaware State University, and Zeta N. Phillips from Lincoln University of Pennsylvania. They attended events like the Emerging Recreational Sports Leaders Conference and the 2026 NIRSA + IDEA World Conference & Expo.

Project COURAGE launched in 2023 to create pathways for HBCU students and professionals into careers in recreation, wellness, and fitness. The program provides access to professional development, mentorship, and networking that might otherwise be out of reach.

"Project COURAGE is about creating access and building pathways into the fitness and recreation industry," said Rebecca Peoples, Collegiate Recreation East Region Director at Matrix Fitness. The company has awarded 14 scholarships since the program began.

The Ripple Effect

The impact goes beyond individual career wins. Isaiah Taylor, a 2024/2025 scholarship recipient from North Carolina Central University, now serves as a Sports Director for the YMCA, overseeing youth sports programming. "Attending the annual conference and meeting people from diverse backgrounds across the recreation community gave me the insight and inspiration to chart exactly where I wanted to go," Taylor said.

Matrix Fitness recently expanded the program through a partnership with the American Council on Exercise, increasing access to fitness certifications for the Project COURAGE network. Every applicant, regardless of award status, is welcome to engage with the program's professional community.

Applications for the 2026/2027 scholarship season open in October at ProjectCOURAGEbyMatrix.com. The program is creating lasting change in an industry that needs diverse voices and perspectives.