Passaic Co. Car Crash Survivor Awarded $25K Scholarship

PASSAIC COUNTY, NJ — Malcolm Young has dealt with a lot of adversity on his dream to become a professional dancer, including two car crashes that kept him off the dance floor for months. He also dealt with stereotyping.

But Young has not let that keep him from his dream, a dream he has held on to since he was 10.

The Taco Bell Foundation is helping Young further that dream by awarding him a $25,000 Live Más scholarship. The Clifton resident is one of just 10 people nationwide to win the foundation's highest scholarship awarded.

"I never knew what being truly passionate about something was until I started dancing," Young said in his application video to the foundation.

Young is studying to earn a fine arts degree in dance, with a minor in business, from New York University. He plans to earn a master's degree in business and entertainment management.

"Growing up, I faced a lot of slack for being a male dancer. People place stereotypes on you to diminish your gift," Young said in his application video. "While I never really let that get to me, I know there are other young male artists who struggle with bullying."

Young wants to open a training and mentorship program for young male artists.

"It is important to see young men represented in a positive light and have an example of the endless possibilities there are in this world," Young said.

Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com