Alabama A&M, the largest HBCU in the state, was the recent recipient of a $1.2 million endowment.
The sizeable donation comes from the John Stallworth Foundation. The organization, run by the university alum and NFL Hall of Famer, has provided merit-based scholarships for deserving students attending Alabama A&M since 1980. Stallworth announced the gift after delivering the commencement address for the class of 2024.
HAPPENING NOW: Alabama A&M Alumnus and NFL Hall of Famer John Stallworth just concluded his Commencement address to the Class of 2024 with a special gift of $1,214,721.00 to support #AAMU students!!!! #StartHere #ProtectTheHill pic.twitter.com/uZm0yMHbp3
— Alabama A&M University (@aamuedu) May 3, 2024
“Playing football was never the end goal,” said Stallworth. “My goal was to own my own business. Football was the vehicle I chose to get there. I left A&M with a bachelor’s degree in business and returned in the off season to receive my MBA all in preparation for realizing my dream of having my own business.”
Daniel Wims, President of AAMU, praised Stallworth and his wife, Flo, for their continued generosity.
“The gift from the John Stallworth Foundation confirms the dedication that our alums have to this institution,” said Wims. “Not only is this impactful to our institution but, it assists with the solidification of our growing brand and reputation. We commend the Stallworths for their continued support and commitment to their alma mater and for having the foresight to secure educational opportunities for our students.”
Recipients of the scholarship will be known as Stallworth Scholars and must meet the required funding criteria. They will be recognized yearly at the AAMU Honor’s Convocation as a John Stallworth Foundation Endowment Scholar.
Austen Shipley is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News.
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