Youth Motivation Task Force

Registration

For complete registration and program information, view the 2026 YMTF Outreach Program registration packet.

1. Please fill out the registration form using the Google Form here

2. After filling out the Google Form, you may submit your payment for individual registration here or for sponsorship payments here.

*Note: Your individual or sponsorship payment amount should reflect what is selected on your Google Form registration. 

Sponsorship

Become a Sponsor for the 2026 YMTF Outreach Program.  Payments may be made online.

The YMTF 2026 Program Book is in process and will be shared soon! Please check back for updates.

YMTF  2026 Outreach Program Mentoring Event

If you are interested in being a mentor or mentee, please make plans to attend the Mentoring Networking Event on Tuesday, March 31st, 2026. The event will take place in the Ernest Knight Center VIP Room from 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM

More information coming soon!

Mentorship and Career Guidance

Through personalized career counseling sessions, Mr. Davis consistently provided students with invaluable guidance. He helped them identify their strengths, explore diverse career pathways, and develop effective job search and professional development strategies. His mentorship empowered students to pursue opportunities that aligned with both their talents and aspirations.

Innovative Career Development Programs

As Director of the Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University (AAMU) Placement Office - now known as the Career Development Services (CDS) - Mr. Davis built strategic partnerships with a consortium of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), primarily throughout the southern United States.

He actively researched and visited industry, governmental, academic, and public service organizations to expand employment pipelines for AAMU students. His efforts included:

• • • Inviting corporate recruiters and guest speakers to campus
    • Securing cooperative education placements and internships
    • Creating hands-on professional learning experiences

These initiatives significantly enhanced students’ exposure to career opportunities and broadened their understanding of the professional landscape.

Community and Employer Engagement

Mr. Davis collaborated with local businesses and organizations to identify on-the-job training programs and summer employment opportunities. These partnerships bridged the gap between academic preparation and professional experience, ensuring students were workforce-ready upon graduation.

Student Success and National Impact

Numerous students—including James Jennings, Robert Holmes, Carol Toney, Marcellus Williams, Elder Birdsong, John Stallworth, Tyrone Mullins, Sheryl Snodgrass, Jonell Yarborough, Carol Watkins, and Lucille Freeman, among many others—credit Mr. Davis with providing critical guidance during pivotal career decisions. His support opened doors to newly emerging professional fields that were historically less accessible to African Americans.

During the late 1960s and 1970s, as Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University stood on the cusp of the Civil Rights era, the institution became widely recognized as a premier HBCU for recruiting academically distinguished students—many ranking in the top five percent nationally. Mr. Davis played a significant role in positioning AAMU graduates for national and international success.

He encouraged students to take bold steps—relocating beyond the South to opportunities in the North, East, West, and even internationally, particularly those pursuing military careers. Through his strong professional network, including recruiters such as Joe Cockren and Roland Volks, Mr. Davis helped place AAMU students across the country.

His work embodied AAMU’s motto: “Service is Sovereign” — reminding students they could start on “The Hill” and truly go anywhere.

It is in honor of the enduring memory and legacy of Mr. Benjamin Thomas Davis, Jr. that this scholarship is established.

Eligibility and Selection Criteria

To be considered for the Benjamin Thomas Davis, Jr. Legacy Scholarship, applicants must meet the following minimum eligibility standards and demonstrate a high level of academic and professional engagement:

1. Career Development Engagement

Attend a minimum of four (4) Career Development Services (CDS)–sponsored events during the Fall 2025 and/or Spring 2026 semesters. Acceptable events include, but are not limited to, career fairs, employer information sessions, professional development workshops, resume reviews, mock interviews, and networking forums. Attendance must be verifiable through official CDS records.

2. Academic Standing

Attain sophomore classification at the time of application and remain in good academic standing with the University.

3. Academic Achievement

Maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale. Preference may be given to applicants who exceed this minimum standard.

4. Leadership and Peer Engagement

Demonstrate documented initiative and leadership in promoting career readiness among peers.

Applicants must provide evidence of actively encouraging student participation in CDS programs, which may include:

• • • Recruiting and referring fellow students to CDS services (minimum of 10 documented referrals recommended for competitive consideration);
    • Serving as a CDS ambassador, volunteer, or student representative;
    • Organizing or assisting with at least one CDS-related outreach or promotional initiative.

5. Major-Specific Professional Involvement

Exhibit sustained and meaningful engagement in activities aligned with the applicant’s declared major. Competitive applicants will demonstrate participation in at least one (1) of the following during the current academic year:

• • • A major-related internship, cooperative education experience, or research project;
    • Active membership or leadership role in a discipline-specific student organization;
    • Participation in a professional conference, academic competition, or industry certification program;
    • Completion of a documented professional development milestone relevant to the field of study.

6. Statement of Professional Intent

Submit a brief written statement (500–750 words) outlining:

• • • Career aspirations and professional goals;
    • How engagement with Career Development Services has influenced their career trajectory;
    • How they exemplify the proactive, opportunity-seeking spirit reflective of Mr. Davis’s legacy.

More information coming soon!