Travis Scott has awarded $1 million in scholarships to 38 historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) through his Cactus Jack Foundation.
Funds will be divided among 100 graduating seniors, who will be awarded $10,000.
Travis Scott’s foundation announces $1M in scholarships for 100 students at HBCUs! pic.twitter.com/0qBtJFWcNX
— Xtraa Mediaa (@xtraamediaa) May 18, 2022
The foundation granted the scholarships through the Waymon Webster Scholarship Fund, named after the rapper’s Prairie View A&M-educated grandfather, who also taught at the HBCU.
The 38 HBCUs that received scholarship funds include powerhouse institutions like Alabama A&M, Jackson State, Southern, Central State, Florida A&M, Morehouse College, Texas Southern, Grambling State, Xavier University, and Prairie View A&M.
“With Scott’s support, the Waymon Webster Scholarship Fund granted $10,000 scholarships to seniors who have reached academic excellence (averaging 3.5 or higher GPA) but have faced the all-too-common last-minute challenge of financial adversity in the second semester of their senior year,” a news release reads. “The scholarships will bring 100 students over the finish line, diploma in hand.”
“Excellence abounds in every Black household, but too often, opportunity does not — and Black students are left behind or counted out. So that’s what my family and I set out to change,” Travis Scott noted. “We congratulate all 100 scholarship recipients this year. I know we will see great things from them — and we are already looking forward to increasing our work next year.”
Scott’s sister, Jordan Webster, a recent Howard graduate who serves as the Waymon Webster Scholarship Fund’s project manager, also spoke on the initiative.
“Last week, I received my own diploma from Howard University. I know personally how deeply important my grandfather’s academic legacy at HBCUs is to my entire family — to Travis, as well as my twin brother Josh who is at Prairie View A&M University — and now, to 100 people that Travis has been able to help out at a tough time,” she said. “It means the world to me to be able to work with my brother as he creates hope and makes a real difference for our peers and their families.”
As Blavity previously reported, Travis Scott first announced the Waymon Webster Scholarship Fund after unveiling his Project HEAL initiative earlier this year, which was started a few months following the Astroworld tragedy.
“My grandfather was an educator who made a difference in thousands of young lives throughout his life,” the rapper previously noted. “It’s in his spirit that we are creating projects and programs that will look to the future of our communities and create hope and excellence in as many lives as possible.”
