ATLANTA – At just 20 years old, Michael Brittain faced enormous tragedy when his mother was shot to death. The killing shook Michael to his core and nearly forced the sophomore dual degree physics engineering major to abandon his dreams and quit Clark Atlanta University.
“It was so sudden,” said Michael, an Atlanta native who graduated Therrell High School. “To wake up and find out your mother was shot in the head is traumatizing. You really don’t know how to feel. You’re numb,” he explained.
His mother’s shooting death created a huge financial burden for Michael and his two siblings, who were left to fend for themselves. “My mom was the co-signer for all my student loans. She was our sole provider. Now that she’s gone, it’s been a struggle to pay rent, buy food and afford basic living expenses,” he shared.
But his teammates on the CAU Panthers Men’s Basketball squad, led by Coach Darrell Walker, rallied around him and kept his head in the game. Now, he’s getting the financial assistance he desperately needs thanks to a scholarship for housing and meals provided by CAU Athletics. “There was no way we were going to let this terrible tragedy derail Michael from staying at CAU and earning his degree,” said Walker.
“I just want to finish school in memory of my mom. The scholarship from my university would be a big help to achieve the goals she instilled in me as a little boy,” Michael continued.
For more information on how you can contribute to scholarships for CAU student-athletes, please contact the Athletics Department at 404.880.8123.
