(Princeton, N.J. and Washington, D.C. – January 7, 2020) – ETS and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund® (TMCF) are joining forces to bolster opportunities for extraordinary students attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Beginning in the 2020–2021 academic year, TMCF will administer the prestigious ETS Presidential Scholarship, using its unparalleled presence within the HBCU community to create greater awareness about this tremendous scholarship opportunity for eligible students.
The Presidential Scholarship is one in a suite of ETS scholarships that aim to provide greater access to higher education for more diverse student populations in line with the ETS mission of advancing equity in education. Over the past 12 years, the Presidential Scholarship has empowered more than 88 HBCU students to continue their educational journeys.
“Our scholarships reward a passion for learning in students who may otherwise face challenges in its pursuit. The Thurgood Marshall College Fund has a remarkable history of service to the HBCU community. Our relationship enables us to deepen our commitment to students in need, increasing our reach so that we can open doors to exciting possibilities for even more students who are driven to succeed,” said Walt MacDonald, ETS President and CEO.
The Presidential Scholarship provides full tuition for one academic year to eight rising HBCU juniors or seniors who have exhibited outstanding academic performance and leadership in their chosen fields. Eligible HBCU students must have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher, and have a recommendation by the president of their college or university.
“At TMCF, we are proud to work with ETS to provide much needed financial support, through this scholarship, for even more deserving HBCU students so they can be in the best position to thrive both during and after college,” said Harry L. Williams, President and CEO of TMCF.
The Presidential Scholarship has made a difference for exemplary students facing financial challenges, according to Delrisha White, a 2012 winner of the Presidential Scholarship and graduate of Bennett College and the Harvard Graduate School of Education. “The Presidential Scholarship freed me up mentally to focus on my studies and career trajectory. It was a big part of setting me on a lifelong path as an advocate for young people and a coach for adults who wish to help them succeed,” said White. “It’s great to see organizations like ETS and TMCF that are committed to supporting students financially while enrolled in college.”
In addition to the national Presidential Scholarship, ETS awards several annual scholarships providing financial assistance toward postsecondary education for students in its headquarters region. Included are scholarships supporting graduating seniors in the Trenton, N.J. area, students attending two-year educational or technical programs, and the ETS Employees’ Community Action Fund scholarships, which are 100 percent funded by donations from ETS employees for local students. To learn more, visit the Philanthropy page on the ETS website.
The application period for the Presidential Scholarship is February 3, 2020-March 16, 2020. For more information or to apply, please visit: www.tmcf.org/our-scholarships.
ABOUT THE THURGOOD MARSHALL COLLEGE FUND
Established in 1987, the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) is the nation’s largest organization exclusively representing the Black College Community. TMCF member-schools include the publicly-supported Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Predominantly Black Institutions, enrolling nearly 80% of all students attending black colleges and universities. Through scholarships, capacity building and research initiatives, innovative programs, and strategic partnerships, TMCF is a vital resource in the K-12 and higher education space. The organization is also the source of top employers seeking top talent for competitive internships and good jobs.
TMCF is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, charitable organization. For more information about TMCF, visit: www.tmcf.org.
About ETS
At ETS, we advance quality and equity in education for people worldwide by creating assessments based on rigorous research. ETS serves individuals, educational institutions and government agencies by providing customized solutions for teacher certification, English language learning, and elementary, secondary and postsecondary education, and by conducting education research, analysis and policy studies. Founded as a nonprofit in 1947, ETS develops, administers and scores more than 50 million tests annually — including the TOEFL® and TOEIC® tests, the GRE® tests and The Praxis Series® assessments — in more than 180 countries, at over 9,000 locations worldwide. www.ets.org
Media Contacts
ETS: Meghan Cole Ph.: 609.243.6549 Email: mediacontacts@ets.org
TMCF Press: tmcfpress@tmcf.org
