William Nelson Jr. Scholarship

Founded in 2018 by William Nelson Jr., the William Nelson Jr. Scholarship was created to support fearless, determined, and hardworking individuals pursuing careers in the arts. Drawing from his own journey, Will understood the mental and financial challenges that come with chasing a dream.

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Initially, Will chose not to pursue music, discouraged by societal expectations about careers in the arts. Before attending Berklee College of Music, he enrolled at Rutgers University to study Civil Engineering, going through the motions while searching for his true passion—a passion that had been within him all along.

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The turning point came during a psychology class at Rutgers, when the professor played a video that posed a life-changing question: "What would you do every day to make yourself happy if money were no object?" In that moment, Will’s answer was clear—music. Inspired, he pushed past his doubts, applied to the prestigious Berklee College of Music, and was accepted with a partial scholarship.

Despite his acceptance, Will soon faced a daunting financial hurdle as he struggled to cover the remaining tuition. Yet, through God’s grace and the support of his loving family, he managed to attend Berklee for seven consecutive semesters attaining a degree in Contemporary Writing & Production.

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Having experienced these personal battles firsthand, Will was determined to help others overcome similar obstacles. During his senior year, he saved money from his gig performances to fund the first William Nelson Jr. Scholarship. His mission is simple: to ease the financial burden for other aspiring artists, helping them pursue their passions as he has been fortunate to do.

In its inaugural year, the scholarship awarded $500 each to five deserving Berklee students. Reflecting on the joy of giving back, Will shares, "There is no better feeling than waking up and doing what you love!" His vision is to grow the scholarship each year, continuing to uplift and inspire more students on their journey toward fulfilling their dreams.