The United Negro College Fund has announced a new scholarship program for building the pipeline of African American students working in science, technology, engineering and mathematics industries, funded through a $48 million partnership with the Fund II Foundation.
The five-year partnership will award scholarships ranging from $2,500 to $5,000 to 500 African American students per year. Six HBCU students from Washington D.C. or Denver, CO will be eligible to receive $25,000 merit scholarships, and officials say the partnership seeks to provide education and training to help students extend innovation and ownership to underserved areas throughout the country.
“For years, the alarm bells have been ringing about the nation’s need for a more robust STEM education and career pipeline for people of color,” said Dr. Michael L. Lomax, president and CEO of UNCF. “African Americans are woefully underrepresented in the STEM workforce, and yet, are one of the largest consumers within the STEM economy. We are proud to partner with Fund II Foundation to break that cycle and give high-performing, highly motivated African American students a chance to become the next generation of STEM-industry creators through entrepreneurship and venture creation.”
The inaugural group of scholarship recipients will be revealed next month.
