MERGE Inc. is a 501(c)(3) organization established in Tampa, Florida in 2009 to help youth and families merge on the path to success through postsecondary education. We provide college tours, care packages, and career planning. We aim to build connections across communities we serve and create meaningful experiences that contribute to our students’ development.

Since the rise and wane of the COVID-19 pandemic, MERGE Inc. has adapted and expanded it services as well as our geographical footprint to include the state of Georgia. At this event in June, we will celebrate the re-launch of MERGE Inc. in Florida and its expansion to Georgia by awarding scholarships.

We encourage students of all ages to be BOLD in their personal and professional pursuits. In support, we will display several youths’ accomplishments at the event.

Our event begins at 10 AM with an exclusive session for VIP ticketholders, including a meet and greet with our host, keynote speaker, MERGE program alumni, scholarship honorees, and recipients.

There are enjoyable moments for general admission ticketholders too! Arrive by 10:45 AM to see Ronisse White of Storehouse Avenue facilitate live conversations with pediatrician Dr. Odell Barnwell, III and our rising cohort of students, Generation Alpha (children in grades 5 and under).

Our scholarship event will celebrate multiple generations as it features a VIP meet and greet with our program alumni, recognition of our scholarship honorees and recipients, and live conversations with our rising generation: Generation Alpha. MasterChef Junior 2017 winner Jasmine Stewart will host the main event; and the keynote address will come from charismatic speaker and teen entrepreneur, Jeremiah Mitchell. We aim to encourage students of all ages to be BOLD in their personal and professional pursuits, which will be on display at the event.

Jasmine Stewart is a motivational speaker and teen entrepreneur. She currently serves as Teen President for the Southeastern Region of Jack and Jill of America, Inc. and has served in many roles at the local, regional, and national levels. She was named a national Jack and Jill Teen Who Inspires. Jasmine is also known for using her Jamaican roots to help her spice things up in the kitchen.

At 12 years old, she became the Season five winner of MasterChef Junior. When she took home the title, she became the first African American winner of MasterChef Junior and the only contestant in the show’s history to win the show after having been eliminated. Jasmine was honored to work with both Gordon Ramsay and Christina Tosi, the judges of this FOX television show, as well as with Martha Stewart, Wolfgang Puck, and many others. Since the show, Jasmine has stayed busy with speaking engagements across the country, Camp MasterChef, an online cooking class called “Jasmine’s Delightful Desserts”, the Junior Chef Council for Great Wolf’s Lodge, and last year she headlined the MasterChef Junior Live Tour. She has graced the pages of Black Enterprise, Essence, and Atlanta Magazine, and was featured in the Refresh Your Voice campaign for Coca-Cola, in partnership with BlavityNews.

During her high school years, Jasmine founded the Milton High School Black Student Union, was Captain of the Varsity Basketball Cheer Squad, a Beta Club, Milton track team, and Milton Theater group member, Student Council vice president, and Fulton County Youth Commissioner. She also founded her company, JustJas, LLC to encourage young girls to “Let Your Inner Girl Slay.” Jasmine wants young women to be confident and not fear pursuing their hopes and dreams. Graduating with honors, Jasmine plans to attend New York University, focusing on broadcast journalism.

Visit her website JustChefJasmine.com and follow her on social media to learn more about her girls’ empowerment initiatives and purchase products that make a positive statement.

Come meet Jasmine at this sensational event as she graduates with honors, takes off for New York University to focus on broadcast journalism.

MERGE Inc. is excited to have Jasmine as the host of the inaugural Bold Scholarship Brunch.

Jeremiah Mitchell is a teen entrepreneur, talented athlete and sports media specialist. Inspired by legends such as Derrick Brooks and Tony Dungy, Jeremiah has always been a multi-sport player. He started with football and baseball as a young child then fell in love with basketball. His athleticism and passion for sports media motivated him to expand his entrepreneurial efforts from Jpebble Graphics to Jpebble Entertainment and focus on Sports and Digital Media.

Jeremiah served as teen editor, a sports media intern, and a volunteer youth group leader. He has worked with the originators of Sesame Street through the Joan Ganz Cooney Center’s Digital Media for Youth Fellow, a PBS NewsHour’s Student Reporting Labs Fellow, and a Media Team member at The Faith Center of Atlanta. He is the director/producer of the award-winning video for the COVID-19 PSA Competition for the Southeastern Region of Jack and Jill of America, Inc. He served in these capacities while maintaining Honor Roll and Dual Enrollment courses.

Jeremiah is also as emerging humanitarian. He’s one of the founders of Mini Minds Matter, a youth-focused nonprofit devoted to providing mental health support for their peers. He is also devoted to serving individuals in need by providing food, clothing and other necessities.

Jeremiah is no stranger to the stage. Anyone who has met him looks forward to his compassionate and charismatic personality. Learn more about him on his webpage https://www.meetthemitchells.us/jpebble-graphics and as @jpebble_entertainment on Instagram.

MERGE Inc. is excited to have Jeremiah as the Keynote Speaker for the inaugural Bold Scholarship Brunch.