UNCF (United Negro College Fund) yesterday celebrated its 75th anniversary with a special event at the organization’s headquarters in Washington, DC. The 75-year milestone provides a unique opportunity to reflect on the evolution of UNCF over the years and celebrate its impact on higher education for minority students.
To date UNCF:
- Helped more than 450,000 students attain a college degree
- Annually supports more than 60,000 students attending 1,100 colleges
- Annually awards 10,000 scholarships to deserving students
President and CEO Dr. Michael L. Lomax spoke to a crowd of member HBCU representatives, corporate partners, staff and UNCF supporters about the organization’s rich history, the innovation of HBCUs and UNCF’s path toward the next 25 years. Following Dr. Lomax, Dr. Billy Hawkins, president of the oldest HBCU in Alabama, Talladega College, reiterated that HBCUs are still very relevant today and make a difference for students who otherwise may not have the ability to get to and through college. The event was also attended by long-time corporate supporter, Wells Fargo. Sharon Murphy, executive vice president and chief information officer for Wells Fargo, spoke of the importance Wells Fargo places on philanthropy and higher education and acknowledged UNCF’s advocacy for HBCUs.
The event culminated with scholarships awarded to 37 rising college freshmen—all attending one of UNCF’s member institutions. One of the lucky scholarship winners, Roque Lorenzo, headed for Lane College in Jackson, TN, explained in his scholarship application that, “I am now given the opportunity to attend Lane College. With hard work and the dedication of going to college, getting this scholarship would be a blessing.”
For complete details on UNCF’s history, visit https://www.uncf.org/the-latest/75-years-strong-highlights-from-uncfs-history/ . Visit UNCF.org to make a donation to the UNCF Day of Giving campaign that seeks to provide 75 HBCU students with $5,000 scholarships to pursue their academic and professional goals
