When it comes to college, Minneapolis, Minn. native Camille Thomas has two philosophies: it's never too early to plan to attend and it's never too soon to start helping a young person get there. Putting her money where her mouth is, Thomas has established a scholarship for students at her high school alma mater.

Just a couple of years out of college herself, Thomas, a 2002 graduate of Washburn High School in Minneapolis, Minn., has decided to create and coordinate a scholarship fund to raise awareness and educate others about the importance of higher education. She is currently pursuing her master's degree in holistic health in the College of St. Catherine's Henrietta Schmoll School of Health.

Thomas also serves as the director of the non-profit community organization, Preparing Healthy Youth to Transform Tomorrow (PHYTT), a center of college preparation, personal and community health development and employment readiness. She earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.

The Camille A. Thomas Scholarship was created with the intent to provide financial assistance to committed and highly motivated African-American and Latino-American college students.

The scholarship provides up to $3,000 to first-year college students who are graduates of the Minneapolis Public Schools, students studying abroad and students studying a form of health education.

Camille Thomas also hosts a show on the holistic health of the community with Tiffany Scott-Knox on KMOJ-FM (89.9), Mondays, 6-6:30 p.m.

Deadline to apply for the scholarship was April 1, 2009. More information about St. Kate's: www.stkate.edu.