Major League Baseball Charities (MLB) has awarded college scholarships, each valued at $5,000 per year, to twelve graduating high school seniors who participate in the Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) program, the Major League Baseball youth baseball and softball initiative for young people from underserved communities.
The recipients are receiving the grants through the "RBI for RBI" Scholarship Fund, which was created in 2008 to provide financial support for college-bound student-athletes based on academic record, demonstrated leadership, participation in school and community activities, and financial need. The 2016 class of "RBI for RBI" Scholarship Fund recipients brings the total to more than 100 college scholarships awarded to RBI participants from 36 programs since the fund was established. This year's recipients were recognized at the 2016 RBI World Series in Cincinnati over the last two weeks.
"At its core, the RBI program places academics and character building on equal footing with playing opportunities," said Tony Reagins, Senior Vice President of Youth Programs, Major League Baseball. "The RBI for RBI Scholarship rewards some of our program's brightest classroom stars and everyone at Major League Baseball looks forward to witnessing their many future accomplishments."
The RBI for RBI scholarships provide each recipient the opportunity to pursue any field of study at a two-year college, four-year college, university or vocational school in the United States or Puerto Rico. The need-based payments of up to $5,000 per year may be renewed for up to three years or until the award recipient has earned his or her training certificate, associate degree or bachelor's degree.
The 2016 RBI for RBI Scholarship recipients are listed below along with background information on each student-athlete and the program's history in the RBI for RBI Scholarship program:
Ashley Carroll (Cincinnati Reds RBI): Representing the 2016 RBI World Series host, Carroll has been a member of the Cincinnati Reds RBI program for five years. She achieved a 5.5 weighted GPA and plans to attend Case Western Reserve University to major in Chemical Engineering and play softball. She has been a participant in both the varsity softball and bowling teams all four years in high school. Carroll was also a member of her school's chapter of the National Honor Society. She is one of two 2016 RBI for RBI Scholarship recipients from the Cincinnati Reds RBI program, which has had an RBI for RBI recipient for four consecutive years and the most recipients since 2010 (eight).  
Delton Cooper III (Boys & Girls Club of Greater Kansas City RBI): Cooper finishes high school with a 3.61 GPA and plans to attend Rockhurst University in Kansas City, Missouri to major in Engineering. He has been an active member of the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Kansas City and its RBI league for eight years. Cooper is the first Kansas City RBI scholarship recipient since 2011 and the third overall.
Dillon Cass (Harlem RBI): Cass is graduating with the intention of attending SUNY Oneonta to major in Engineering. He was a member of the National Honor Society and received recognition for the 'High Honor Roll' all four years of high school. Cass was a member of his high school basketball and baseball teams all four years. Cass is the ninth overall member of Harlem RBI to receive an RBI for RBI Scholarship, the most of any RBI program.
Timothy Dashiell (Baltimore Orioles RBI): Dashiell plans to attend the Community College of Baltimore County to major in Mass Communications or Journalism. He hopes to one day become a sports journalist. He has served as Class Officer for all four of his high school years. He was awarded 'All-Division' on his high school baseball team and participated as a Baltimore Orioles RBI regional team member for three years. Dashiell is one of two student-athletes representing the first RBI for RBI Scholarship recipients out of Baltimore Orioles RBI, achieved the same year the program made its first RBI World Series appearance.
Cheyenne Durant (Baltimore Orioles RBI): Durant plans to attend Frostburg State University to major in Psychology. She hopes to one day become a Behavioral Analyst for the FBI. She received sportsmanship awards for both cheerleading and basketball, both of which she participated during all four years of high school. Durant served as co-captain for the Baltimore Orioles RBI Regional team and spent her spare time volunteering at her local hospital the last two years.
Bryce Gray (Chicago White Sox ACE RBI): Gray finishes high school with a 5.54 weighted GPA and plans to attend the University of Notre Dame to major in Pre-Law and Finance. He hopes to pursue a career in the sports industry. Gray has served as the captain for both the baseball and football teams at his high school. He was a member of his high school's National Honor Society chapter and served as a peer mediator for three years. He is the first RBI participant out of Chicago to receive an RBI for RBI Scholarship.
Cameron Lavergne (Houston Astros RBI): Lavergne finishes high school with a 4.3 weighted GPA and plans to attend Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas to major in Engineering and play softball. She was voted 'All District' for her high school softball and volleyball teams and was selected for the Impact Player Award through the Houston Astros RBI league. Lavergne was a member of his school's chapter of the National Honor Society and the Trumpet Section Leader in the school's marching band. This is the third consecutive year a participant in Houston Astros RBI has received the RBI for RBI Scholarship and eighth overall. Most significantly, this is the second Lavergne to receive the scholarship as Cameron's brother, Aaron, received it in 2012 as well.
Jalicia Morgan (Mission Hill Pirates RBI): Morgan is Roxbury, Massachusetts' first RBI for RBI Scholarship recipient. She plans to attend the Wentworth Institute of Technology to major in Civil Engineering. Her goal is to pursue a career as a Civil Engineer. She has participated on the Mission Hill Pirates RBI team for two years and has served as co-captain for her varsity volleyball team. Mission Hill Pirates RBI is part of the larger Red Sox RBI network.
Henry Negrón Jr. (Newark RBI): Negrón is the fourth Newark RBI participant to receive the RBI for RBI Scholarship since 2014. He plans to attend the Stevens Institute of Technology to major in Civil Engineering. Negrón serves as Treasurer for both the Diversity Among Peers and Spanish clubs, and he uses his spare time volunteering at the Interfaith Food Pantry along with other various community service projects.
Sascha Norman (Macon RBI): Norman plans to attend Darton State College in Albany, Georgia to pursue a career as a Physical Therapist. She has served as the captain for her high school and RBI softball teams and was a recent recipient of the "Outstanding Performance Award" through her theater performance group. She volunteers her spare time with the local food and clothing bank. Norman is the first Macon (Georgia) RBI participant to receive the RBI for RBI Scholarship.
Garrett Richelieu (Bradenton RBI): Richelieu plans to attend ASA College in Miami, Florida to major in Business and Marketing. He was a member of his high school's chapter of National Honor Society and Honor Roll all four years, and was a varsity letterman for his baseball team. Richelieu has volunteered more than 350 hours with the Salvation Army, camps, elementary schools and local Little League teams. He is the third Bradenton RBI participant to receive the RBI for RBI Scholarship and the first since 2013.
Savannah Taylor (Cincinnati Reds RBI): Taylor plans to attend Wittenburg University in Springfield, Ohio to major in Biochemistry and pursue a medical career as an ER Physician. She was a member of her high school's chapter of National Honor Society as well as the Women in Medicine club and served as a Student Ambassador. She volunteers her spare time at the P&G Cincinnati MLB Youth Academy as well as Mercy West Hospital.
About Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI)
The RBI program, which has served approximately 2 million young people since its inception, is the Major League Baseball youth initiative designed to give young people from underserved and diverse communities the opportunity to play baseball and softball, while also encouraging academic achievement and success and teaching the value of teamwork and other important life lessons. RBI currently serves approximately 230,000 young men and women in over 300 programs established in approximately 200 cities worldwide. MLB and its Clubs have designated more than $40 million worth of resources to the RBI program, and all 30 Clubs support RBI leagues. For more information, please visit: MLB.com/rbi.