Diddy's Son Justin Combs Gets Full Scholarship to UCLA as Many Students Struggle

[ElPunto]

Should a multimillionaire's son be able to get a free-ride scholarship to a state school that has been struggling with budget cuts and raging student protests?

 

If that son plays football well, guess so.

 

Sean "P. Diddy" Combs' teenage boy Justin Combs is getting a full scholarship, worth a reported $54,000, to UCLA:

 

 

 

The U.K.'s Daily Mail reported the news over the holiday weekend and, of course, immediately noted that the son of a guy worth nearly half a billion dollars was getting a free ride.

 

And we'll note that UCLA is a school where student tuition and fees have nearly tripled in the last 10 years.

 

The Mail:

 

'He is the richest man in hip-hop and last year his wealth was estimated by Forbes magazine to be $550 million.

However, Sean 'Diddy' Combs won't have to trouble his fortune to pay for son Justin's higher education.'

 

 

After the news of the scholarship broke CNN immediately asked: Should P. Diddy's son return $54,000 college scholarship?

 

He sealed his fate with UCLA last week after graduating from high school in New Rochelle, New York, where the 18-year-old wrapped up with a 3.75 GPA. At 5 feet, 9 inches and 170 pounds he's small, but apparently effective.

 

Last week Combs, apparently celebrating his graduation, tweeted photos of himself and friends posing next to a $300,000-plus Maybach.

 

That's possibly the car his father reportedly bought him for his 16th birthday.

 

 

It's a free ride that could pay for half dozen full-ride scholarships to UCLA.

 

[Added at 1:30 p.m.]: A UCLA spokesman wants you to know that the school does a lot for students who need financial help:

 

We certainly want to emphasize that 42% of UCLA undergraduates have their full tuition covered by need-based financial aid. Also, 41% of UCLA students receive a federal Pell Grant, among the highest percentages in the nation. In addition, one-third of all revenue generated by tution is deicated to financial aid. These are clear indidations that UCLA is a leader in serving low-income students.

 

[update at 4:09 p.m.]: UCLA spokesman Ricardo Vazquez adds that "UCLA enrolls more low-income Pell Grant recipients than the entire Ivy League combined" and says:

 

Unlike need-based scholarships, athletic scholarships are awarded to students strictly on the basis of their athletic and academic ability, and not on a student's financial need. Athletic scholarships - such as those awarded to football or basketball players - do not rely on state funds. Instead, these scholarships are entirely funded by Athletic Department ticket sales, corporate partnerships, media contracts and private donations from supporters.

 

Each year, UCLA awards the equivalent of approximately 285 full athletic scholarships to outstanding student athletes. The scholarships are used by the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics to pay the students' tuition and fees as well as room and board. In this respect, UCLA is no different than the overwhelming majority of Division I institutions.

 

http://blogs.laweekly.com/informer/2012/05/p_diddy_son_ucla_scholarship_justin_combs.php

 

[@dennisjromero / djromero@laweekly.com / @LAWeeklyNews]

[ElPunto]

I don't like athletic scholarships period. But for one whose parents are this rich - it isn't right. He should be recognized for his abilities and given a token amount only.

[Che -Guevara]

The kid earned it.

[ElPunto]

There is a scarcity of scholarship money. Many ppl have earned it so to speak but the university makes a choice with regard to who they give it to. So the idea that a kid 'earned it' when his parents could well afford to pay strikes me as myopic.

[Che -Guevara]

Well, if he meets the criteria needed to get the scholarships, denying him would be unfair.

[ElPunto]

Well one of the cirteria should be if your dad is worth half a billion dollars - we're going to give you $1000 and a certificate testifying to your athletic prowess but not scarce scholarship money.

[Che -Guevara]

^You are assuming the parent actually will pay for the kid's tuition.

[ElPunto]

When you're applying for financial aid in the states they ask you about your parent's incomes and their contribbutions. It's a valid assumption for all parents and given net worth of his dad it's a drop in the bucket. And even if he will not contribute junior can sell that Maybach and pay off multiples of the cost.

[Nin-Yaaban]

I think he deserves it, and should keep it. Scholarships aren't like financial aid where it's based on your income or how much money ur parents make. At least he is not being like some of the other rich kids where their rich parents pay for everything. Good for him.

[ElPunto]

^it is different in form only - the end result is to pay for university costs. Given how much they've escalated - I rather give moneys in any form to some poor latino kid who's parents work in the fields rather than negro richy rich.

[faarah22]

Scholarships are a scarce resource, the priority should lie with well performing but poor kids. diddy can pay for his son.

[Bluelicious]

ElPunto;836679 wrote:

There is a scarcity of scholarship money. Many ppl have earned it so to speak but the university makes a choice with regard to who they give it to. So the idea that a kid 'earned it' when his parents could well afford to pay strikes me as myopic.

Co-sign.

 

The rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. Life is unfair.

[Nin-Yaaban]

ElPunto;836721 wrote:

^it is different in form only - the end result is to pay for university costs. Given how much they've escalated - I rather give moneys in any form to some poor latino kid who's parents work in the fields rather than negro richy rich.

before you give 'em, just make sure they are legal. LoL

[Bluelicious]

^^ Lol too much latinos crossing the border to America huh.

[Nin-Yaaban]

Bluelicious;836960 wrote:

^^ Lol too much latinos crossing the border to America huh.

Wadoonko dhan ayeey Qabsadeen abaayo. Waa in kuligood lawada celiyaa.