Young Guru is sponsoring a full-tuition scholarship for one lucky prospective student hoping to enroll in the Roc Nation School of Music, Sports & Entertainment at Long Island University.
Gimel "Young Guru" Keaton — the engineer on pretty much all of Jay-Z’s music since getting his start with Hov on 2000’s The Dynasty: Roc La Familia (he has also been Jay’s tour DJ since 2010) — has served as the Director of the Music Technology, Entrepreneurship & Production program at the school since 2022. He announced on Tuesday (June 30) that he is sponsoring a full-tuition, four-year scholarship for one prospective student, with applications already open.
Anyone interested can apply here, submitting either a written entry or a video running no longer than three minutes. The deadline for applications is July 17.
All applicants have to do is answer a series of queries: (1) How do you define success? (2) Please share how the Young Guru scholarship will help you be the best version of yourself. (3) Where do you see yourself in ten years, and how will you get there?
"Education and mentorship have always been at the heart of everything I do," Guru said in the announcement. "This scholarship is about creating opportunities for the next generation of music industry professionals. I want these students to not only receive an incredible education, but also gain real-world experience, build meaningful relationships and leave prepared to shape the future of our industry."
To be eligible for the scholarship, applicants must be prospective students seeking to enroll for the Fall 2026 semester.
Beyond the tuition, the winner of the scholarship will shadow Keaton throughout the academic year and work with him one-on-one inside the school's Dolby Atmos-enabled Professional Studio, which features four isolation booths, a control room, and a live room designed by the same audio integrator behind NYC's iconic Baseline Studios.
Guru previously offered a similar full-tuition award in 2022 when he first joined as director. He joins a roster of industry heavyweights who have backed scholarships at the Roc Nation School, including DJ Khaled, Megan Thee Stallion, and NBA All-Star LaMelo Ball.
The Roc Nation School, which began enrolling students in Fall 2021 in JAY-Z's home borough of Brooklyn, currently serves roughly 300 students across six bachelor of arts programs.
The school met with some controversy last year when Gothamist spoke to a number of students who said they “unexpectedly owed LIU thousands of dollars despite receiving offer letters stating they’d graduate ‘without debt.’”
