WASHINGTON, D.C. – Chloe Brackens and Charlese Colen have enjoyed the opportunity of representing the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff during an action-packed second day of the 2023 Thurgood Marshall College Fund Leadership Institute presented by Wells Fargo Thursday at the Hilton Hotel.
Brackens had a memorable day as she was one of five students to receive a $2,000 scholarship from John Deere Vice President Aaron Wetzel. Students attended sessions on financial literacy sponsored by Wells Fargo and personal branding hosted by John Deere. Colen enjoyed both presentations.
“My biggest takeaways from the sessions today were “be humble to the process, or the process will humble you,” said Colen, a junior agriculture plant science major. “I think this resonates with me the most because sometimes I have doubts, but continuing to be humble will keep me going.
“Being here at the Leadership Institute means a lot to me. Knowing that many people applied but were not chosen makes me feel special and grateful. I am very appreciative of this opportunity. While here, I’m going to take as much in and make as many connections as possible.”
One of the highlights of the Leadership Institute was the recruitment fair, where Fortune 100 companies and government agencies identify top talent for jobs, internships, and continuing education opportunities. TMCF has a well-earned reputation for providing its employer partners with direct access to top HBCU talent.
Before the recruitment fair, TMCF’s senior director of talent acquisition and campus relations, Alicia Head, provided the 445 students with a pep talk by sharing, “You are the embodiment of excellence and determination that HBCUs stand for. Embrace the grind, maintain a positive attitude, and keep moving forward.”
TMCF advances racial equity and social justice by ensuring Black students can access high-quality education and life-changing career opportunities. Throughout its history, TMCF has provided $500 million in assistance through scholarships, programs, and internships to students.
“Being part of TMCF has helped me grow more as a person. It has allowed me to meet many people and make lifetime connections,” Colen said. “It has also helped me to stop being shy and come more out of my shell.”
Attending her first Leadership Institute, Colen, the salutatorian of her high school graduating class is no stranger to TMCF programming as she participated in the Kroger Zero Waste challenge last October in Cincinnati. She was part of the winning UAPB team that successfully pitched their idea.
Colen, a STEM scholar, maintains active participation in several organizations, including the National Society of Black Engineers, Carolyn F. Blakely Honors College, Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Science, and the Animal Science Club. She was also part of the UAPB Spirit Team.
Colen stepped out of her comfort zone to enjoy the various photo booths in the student lounge.
“A cool moment for me was the professional business photo booth,” Colen said. “I know that’s something small, but I have been saying for a while now “I need to take a new headshot,” so the booth being here was cool for me. “Claim your Flame” means that any opportunity I receive in life, I should go for it and give it my all.”
ABOUT 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 publicly supported Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs). Publicly supported HBCUs enroll over 80% of all students attending HBCUs. Through scholarships, capacity building and research initiatives, innovative programs, and strategic partnerships, TMCF is a vital resource in the K-12 and higher education spaces. The organization is also a source for top employers seeking top talent for competitive internships and good jobs.
