Tuskegee University on Wednesday announced that it has been awarded a $250,000 grant from the Regions Foundations to support students in its Low-and Middle Income (LMI) Scholarship Program.
The scholarships are expected to support at least 50 students in pursuing their degrees.
Regions Foundation, a nonprofit initiative primarily funded by Regions Bank, supports educational and workforce readiness investments, economic and community development, and financial wellness.
The grant is part of a two-year, $12 million commitment announced last year by the Regions Foundation and Regions Bank to support organizations dedicated to serving the economic needs of minority communities by advancing racial equity and creating inclusive opportunities for success.
Marta Self, executive director of the Regions Foundation, touched on the need to empower underserved communities.
“The Regions Foundation is committed to advancing education opportunities for students across our communities while removing barriers to success,” said Self. “Those barriers often include financial challenges in obtaining a degree, and our goal is to use the foundation’s resources in a way that connects more students with the opportunity to complete their education and pursue rewarding careers.”
She added, “We appreciate the work of the educators, administrators and staff of Tuskegee University, and we are honored to support their work to empower students through a world-class education.”
Tuskegee University has received a $250,000 grant from the Regions Foundation to support scholarships for students. The scholarships are expected to support at least 50 students as they pursue their degrees. Read more at: https://t.co/ih2fDekbLr #TuskegeeUniversity #Scholarships pic.twitter.com/4H5pI9PrO9
— TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY (@TuskegeeUniv) September 22, 2021
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Tuskegee University’s enrollment dropped by nearly 270 students. The award will further assist the HBCU (historically black college and university) to overcome its enrollment gap by offering scholarships to low and moderate-income students who are eligible to receive federal funding.
Eligible students can apply for funding through Tuskegee’s Office of Financial Aid as part of their application for financial assistance.
Alongside the grant offering, Regions Bank has long provided the HBCU with financial and volunteer support. Last year, emergency financial assistance was provided by the Birmingham-based bank to students who were negatively impacted by the pandemic. Funding from the financial institution provided access to technology and equipment for students to transition to online studies. Regions Bank supports annual career fairs and other events on campus as well.
Additionally, as part of its community engagement priorities, Regions associates taught education courses to students.
Tuskegee University President Dr. Charlotte P. Morris praised Regions Bank for its charitable giving and hailed the longstanding relationship it holds with the financial institution.
“We have had a long-term relationship with Regions Bank as they have managed the institution’s financial resources for many years. We are grateful for the opportunity to begin a new relationship with the Regions Foundation that has shown a true commitment to helping those in their community,” said Morris. “Over 70% of Tuskegee students are on some type of financial aid. As our students continue to strive toward completing their education during these challenging times, the investment by the Regions Foundation serves to reduce the barriers to success for them.”
In addition to the Regions Foundation’s support at Tuskegee, the foundation has also recently supported student scholarships at other HBCUs across Alabama, Florida and Tennessee.
Dylan Smith is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSmithAL
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