McDonald's owners in the Tennessee Valley are giving back to the area's HBCU community by awarding $10,000 in scholarships. These business owners are providing 10 lucky HBCU students with $1,000 each through the McDonald's Greater Tennessee Valley Operators Association (GTVOA) Trailblazer Scholarship.
The scholarship is available for students attending HBCUs throughout Tennessee and Northern Alabama—including Fisk, Alabama A&M, Austin Peay State, Meharry Medical College, Tennessee State, Oakwood and J.F. Drake State Community College.
The funds will be available for the upcoming 2022-2023 academic year, and they "can only be applied to verifiable costs associated with average tuition and usual fees." Eligible students can apply until Mar. 21, and the ten winners will be announced in April.
Greater Tennessee Valley McDonald’s Owner-Operators awarding scholarships to HBCU students. AAMU students are eligible to apply! https://t.co/KL1YvrTz6z
— Alabama A&M University (@aamuedu) February 4, 2022
This news comes about two weeks after announcing an HBCU scholarship campaign via a partnership between McDonald's USA and journalist Roland S. Martin. This initiative, supported by the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF), is notably in celebration of the recent 115th anniversary of Alpha Phi Alpha—a historically Black fraternity of which Martin is a member.
"HBCUs and their students are vital to the fabric of our nation, and I will always champion for their success," Martin stated. "I've witnessed first hand the financial struggle that impacts Black college students, especially those in their final semesters. So, I'm pleased to partner with McDonald's and TMCF to celebrate my beloved fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha and provide a resource that will help Black students graduate."
Through the McDonald's X Roland S. Martin Scholarship, seven juniors and seniors attending HBCUs throughout the U.S. will receive "a need-based scholarship for up to $15,000." Students can apply until Feb. 28.
"We know the outstanding work being done at HBCUs, which is why our team is devoted to use our scale and resources to expand educational opportunities for Black students," said Reginald Miller—McDonald's VP and Global Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer. "Our hope is that this scholarship effort helps build and support the pipeline of diverse talent that will go on to be changemakers in our society for decades to come."
