United Negro College Fund president Dr. Michael Lomax, Dr. Jason Wingard, Dean of Columbia University’s School of Professional Studies, and other university officers, sponsors, and partners convened on May 20th to recognize twenty graduates’ successful completion of the Columbia HBCU Fellowship.
Perseverance, self-assurance, and readiness for the unexpected emerged as themes in the speakers’ remarks to the new graduates. Dr. Jason Wingard, creator of the fellowship, emphasized the importance of preparation in the face of opportunity, stating, “Success is when opportunity meets preparation, so that’s why you always want to be prepared.”
The breakfast celebration - held the Monday after the fellows’ graduation from the School of Professional Studies - marked the end of the initiative’s second year. The HBCU Fellowship is a signature educational access initiative at the school and is designed to connect talented, diverse students with Fortune 500 companies looking to employ them. High-achieving undergraduate seniors selected by partner HBCUs are eligible for the fellowships, which grant full tuition and housing for master’s programs at the School of Professional Studies. In addition, fellows are paired with industry mentors, and gain access to internships and career coaching and guidance.
Read the full article in Diverse: Issues in Higher Education.
