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I am confident others will follow in Mayor Bloomberg’s footsteps and make transformative gifts to support Pell-eligible HBCU students. Last year, a kind-hearted man unconnected to the HBCU community passed away. His last wish was for those he left behind to make donations to TMCF. We received small checks for several weeks after he died. That was an exceptional tribute. Small donors are just as crucial to TMCF as our larger supporters. Yet a leadership gift in the magnitude of Mr. Bloomberg’s would allow TMCF to help more students each year in perpetuity.

Mishoe, who had been acting president of the historically Black university since last year and was appointed president in July, will be formally recognized during an investiture ceremony Saturday.

The Farm Bill Conference Committee Report contains multiple wins for our 1890 institutions including the elimination of the Carry-Over Provision; increased transparency regarding the state-matching requirement; $50 million for three Centers of Excellence at three 1890 universities; and the authorization of $80 million in scholarship funds for HBCU students.

Officials throughout the HBCU community applauded the historic bill for significant investments in black colleges’ support of minority farming and agribusiness development.

A loss of accreditation can be devastating for institutions, as they are no longer eligible to receive federal funding for students who rely on financial aid to attend. Moreover, some employers or graduate schools will not accept degrees from unaccredited schools.

Through TMCF, the trio will identify standout entrepreneurs-in-the-making from publicly-supported historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) around the country. Those students will represent their school in teams to compete for the top prize.