Eight HBCUs participating in Homecoming Scholars Award Program
Morehouse College is one of eight schools that superstar entertainer Beyoncé Knowles has chosen to be part of her new Homecoming Scholars Award Program.
One student from Morehouse—along with others from Xavier, Wilberforce, Tuskegee, Bethune-Cookman, Grambling, Fisk, and Texas Southern—will be selected to receive a $25,000 scholarship for the 2018-2019 academic year, for study in various fields.
All applicants for the Homecoming Scholars Award Program must maintain a 3.5 GPA or above, and be focusing their studies on literature, the creative arts, African-American Studies, science, education, business, communications, social sciences, computer science, and/or engineering
Finalists and winners will be selected by the colleges and universities, and winners will be announced this summer.
Beyoncé initially announced that only four schools would participate in the scholarship program, but Google matched her $100,000 grant, and four more colleges and universities were added.
“The efforts of Beyoncé and Google shine a very significant light on the importance of educating students at historically black colleges such as Morehouse College,” said Morehouse President David A. Thomas. “This level of support of HBCUs demonstrates how vital these institutions are to the world.
“We applaud Beyoncé and Google for their advocacy of higher education.”
Ivy McGregor, director of philanthropy and corporate relations at Parkwood Entertainment, which houses BeyGOOD, said the scholarship program is a salute to the rich legacy of historically black colleges and universities. “We honor all institutions of higher learning for maintaining culture and creating environments for optimal learning, which expands dreams and the seas of possibilities for students,” he said. “Partnering with organizations like Google.org in support of HBCUs is our way of elevating cultural touchstones that paint a clear picture of excellence and opportunity through diverse education.
“We challenge other businesses across the country to join us in this commitment to higher education and investment in the future.”
Steve Pamon, a 1991 graduate of Morehouse and president and COO of Parkwood Entertainment—the company serving as an umbrella for Beyoncé’s production and business ventures—said the singer has long been supportive of HBCUs.
“As a Morehouse graduate myself, I can attest that HBCUs provide both an excellent educational opportunity, as well as a community of support that lasts a lifetime,” he said. “The lifeblood of that community is an annual pilgrimage to homecoming.
“This scholarship program can ensure that more students will enjoy the HBCU experience that continues to enrich my life.”
