BEYONCÉ PARTNERS WITH GOOGLE.ORG IN ANNOUNCING FOUR MORE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR HER HOMECOMING SCHOLARS AWARD PROGRAM FOR 2018-2019 FOLLOWING HER SECOND ELECTRIFYING HEADLINING SHOW AT COACHELLA
Queen Bey continues to wow us off stage just as good as she does on the stage. According to PR Newswire Beyoncé’s BeyGOOD initiative has partnered with Google to award four new scholarships to Beyonce’s Homecoming Scholars Award Program. The iconic performer also issues a challenge to other businesses to join Google.org in investing in excellence through education.
Google.org has matched the $100,000 grant Beyoncé announced last week, which will enable four additional HBCUs to receive $25,000 scholarships for the 2018-2019 academic year. The schools chosen are Texas Southern University, located in Beyoncé’s home city, Houston, Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee, the alma mater of her father, Mathew Knowles. Grambling State University in Grambling, Louisiana and Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia. HBCUs are institutions of higher education in the United States that were established before the Civil Rights Act of 1964 with the intention of primarily serving the African-American community.
“Google understands the vital role historically black colleges and universities play in delivering a high quality and culturally responsive education,” states Maab Ibrahim, a Google.org program manager. “In the last several years, Google has launched innovative programs to close the distance between Silicon Valley and HBCUs; we are proud to continue that commitment by matching Beyoncé’s generous donation.”“Partnering with organizations like Google.org in support of HBCUs is our way of elevating cultural touchstones that paint a clear picture of excellence and opportunity through diverse education,” states Ivy McGregor, Director of Philanthropy and Corporate Relations at Parkwood Entertainment, which houses BeyGOOD. “We challenge other businesses across the country to join us in this commitment to higher education and investment in the future.”
Beyoncé made her historic comeback to the stage after a year off of performing from giving birth to twin babies last year. Beyonce made history at the 2018 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival by becoming the first Black woman to headline in the festival’s 19-year run.
Beyonce’s show honed in on the excellence in education, preferably an HBCU education during her performance. Her show paid homage to the HBCU tradition of homecoming weekend, the highest display of college pride. The energy-filled production put the spotlight on art and culture, mixing the ancient and the modern, which resonated masterfully through the marching band, performance art, choir, and dance. It was the impetus to mark her second scholarship program.
“As a Morehouse graduate myself, I can attest that HBCUs provide both an excellent educational opportunity, as well as a community of support that lasts a lifetime,” says Steve Pamon, President and COO of Parkwood Entertainment, the company serving as the umbrella for Beyoncé’s production and business ventures. “The lifeblood of that community is an annual pilgrimage to homecoming. This scholarship program can ensure that more students will enjoy the HBCU experience that continues to enrich my life.”
Beyonce’s Homecoming Scholars Awards program will give 1 student from 8 HBCU’s a $25K Scholarship for the 2018-2019 academic school year.
The Homecoming Scholars Award Program for 2018-2019 will expand to qualifying students at the universities, regardless of gender. The disciplines will include literature, creative arts, African-American studies, science, education, business, communications, social sciences, computer science and engineering. All applicants must maintain a 3.5 GPA or above. All finalists and winners will be selected by the universities. Winners will be announced this summer.
