(Photo By Flickr User Lucas Alexandros)

The University of North Florida in Jacksonville, FL has introduced the Holmes Scholarship program with the aim to increase the number of teachers from underrepresented groups.

Nine students have accepted full tuition scholarships. In return they agree to teach in schools in Northeast Florida once they graduate.

Jarred Jackson, one of the nine students who received a Holmes Scholarship stated that,

“it’s exciting to me that I can give back to my community as a positive role model. Knowing that I can go in the school system and affect a child’s life is very exciting.”

According to Rejoice! Musical Soul Food & Good Black News, The University of North Florida enrolls just over 14,000 undergraduate students and more than 2,000 graduate students, according to the latest data supplied by the U.S. Department of Education. African Americans make up 9% of the undergraduate student body.