Nas is honoring the legacy of Thurgood Marshall by supporting HBCU students.
The legendary rapper is partnering with the Hennessy brand and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund to recruit and financially support HBCU students. The $10-million-dollar initiative, called the Hennessy Fellows program, is a unique strategic investment that will take place over ten years. The program’s goal is to promote academic achievement, to create access to corporate development opportunities, to highlight the power and prestige of HBCUs, and to alleviate barriers for students who find HBCUs out of their financial reach.
“I’m proud to lend my voice to encourage enrollment in the Hennessy Fellows Program, a new graduate program created for students who want to blaze their own trails and pursue their dreams, regardless of the challenges,” said Nas about the program.
Ten high-achieving participants will be selected for this rare opportunity through a rigorous application process. Any students currently enrolled in an accredited HBCU or PBI Graduate program is eligible to apply, an important distinction as HBCU students have complained about the lack of available resources for postgraduate study for years.
Those chosen will be granted financial assistance for collegiate graduate-level education programs in the form of scholarships up to $20,000 per academic year stipends up to $10,000 annually to offset other educational expenses. They will also receive valuable corporate development training, a variety of networking opportunities, and exposure to the dynamics of corporate America.
The second annual selection of fellows is taking place right now. Applications are being accepted through December 31st, 2019. The 10 selected Fellows for Cohort II will be revealed in 2020 and begin receiving their benefits prior to the Fall 2020 semester.
A graduate of Lincoln University who obtained graduate and law degrees from Howard University, Marshall’s journey to the bench of the highest court in the nation had long represented the possibilities an HBCU education can offer. The Thurgood Marshall College Fund has assisted in bringing the best and brightest to honor that legacy of excellence for years. They recently worked with The Breakfast Club on a Radiothon to offer HBCU students $5,000 scholarships for the 2020-2021 school year.
“Hennessy’s mantra is all about pushing the limits of one’s potential and breaking down barriers. ‘Never stop. Never settle,’ is more than a slogan. It is the creative engine driving our partnership and the motivational compass directing me to push for new limits every day – in the studio, on the stage, and in business. Thurgood Marshall College Fund’s mission of ‘changing the world… one leader at a time’ is right in line with pushing those same boundaries,” Nas concluded.
Get more details about the Hennessy Fellows Program here.
