NBA legend Earvin 'Magic' Johnson surprises W. P. Carey student with $25,000 scholarship

The award encouraged Tajilynn Karim (BA Business Financial Planning '26) to continue pursuing her goal of giving back to the community.

Tajilynn Karim (BA Business Financial Planning '26) was one of three students awarded a $25,000 scholarship by former NBA athlete and entrepreneur Earvin "Magic" Johnson during an event honoring Martin Luther King Jr. at the ASU Student Pavilion this summer. The honor came as a complete surprise to Karim.

"When Magic Johnson announced the scholarship, I was in shock," she says. "I've never won any kind of raffle or lottery. In this case, I won the best one yet, not by luck but by being myself and working hard. I believe that is the greatest gift I can give myself."

The "Building History: Continuing the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr." event honored the 60th anniversary of King's "Religious Witness for Human Dignity" speech at ASU's Goodwin Stadium. An advocate for elevating communities through economic opportunities, Johnson's nonprofit Magic Johnson Enterprises creates job opportunities and supports the financial growth of the people it serves.

Before being awarded the scholarship, Karim presented Johnson with gifts from ASU during the event, which she describes as an inspiring and unforgettable experience.

"The wisdom and knowledge shared made me feel like I must be doing something right to have reached this point and to be on this path," she says. "I had no idea it would have such an impact on me."

Karim is a first-generation college student raised in a low-income community in South Phoenix. While her community and family have supported her on every step of her academic journey, Karim describes her background as having limited opportunities, and she's worked hard to create more opportunities for herself. The scholarship has profoundly impacted Karim and her family by relieving the financial strain that once affected her academic performance.

"My community means everything to me: It's shaped who I am today," she says. "Even with all the challenges I've faced, I wouldn’t change my upbringing."

Business has always come naturally to Karim. As a child, she watched her father and uncle manage their family business and chose to major in financial planning to gain expertise in the field and pass her knowledge on to her community. Since enrolling at ASU, Karim has pursued leadership roles within organizations that align with her passions and goals. She currently serves as the Sankofa Chair within ASU's Black African Coalition, a community dedicated to unifying and supporting students of African descent on campus, where she coordinates and attends events to promote member academic and professional development. She is also a content creator for the Black Business Student Association and a member of the Sankofa Leadership Institute, which supports Black and African American students through ASU resources and community building.

Karim plans to relocate after graduation to experience life outside Arizona. She hopes to eventually return to Phoenix and give back to her community by contributing to organizations that advocate for positive change and education, starting business ventures, and building her financial portfolios to create generational wealth for herself and her family.

"Receiving this scholarship affirms that I’m on the right path," says Karim. "It encourages me to keep being myself and confidently continue moving forward."