WASHINGTON, DC (February 10, 2015) – The Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) congratulates Taraji P. Henson on her recent NAACP Image Award as Entertainer of the Year. Henson received this high honor for her starring role in the new drama “Empire”, which airs weekly on Fox.
Academy Award Nominee Taraji P. Henson is a native of the D.C.-area where she attended Oxon Hill High School in Oxon Hill, Maryland. Henson graduated from Howard University, a TMCF member-school, with a degree in Theater Arts. Prior to transferring to Howard University, she attended North Carolina A&T State University, also a TMCF member-school, where she originally majored in Electrical Engineering.
“TMCF’s mission includes ensuring HBCUs have the resources to continue producing leaders like Taraji,” said TMCF Founder Joyce Payne. “As a Washingtonian myself, I am proud of Taraji and I am sure our [city] and the HBCU community supports her continued success wholeheartedly.”
Henson, an actress and singer, is known for her roles in the movies Baby Boy, Hustle and Flow, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Think Like a Man. Prior to her current leading role in Empire, she co-starred in the TV drama, Person of Interest, which aired on CBS.
“This is an exciting time for HBCUs. Taraji’s NAACP Image Award as Entertainer of the Year is a perfect example of the role HBCUs play in preparing African American future leaders,” said TMCF President & CEO Johnny C. Taylor, Jr. “This honor couldn’t come at a more perfect time, during Black History Month, as people like Taraji are the history-makers of today that we will be talking about for years to come.”
Media Contact:
Tangie Newborn
tangie.newborn@tmcf.org
202-888-0039 (o) | 240-242-7144 (c)
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ABOUT THE THURGOOD MARSHALL COLLEGE FUND (TMCF)
TMCF is named for the U.S. Supreme Court’s first African-American Justice. Established in 1987, TMCF supports and represents nearly 300,000 students attending its 47 member-schools that includepublicly-supported Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), medical schools and law schools. Through its scholarships and programs, TMCF plays a key role in preparing the leaders of tomorrow.
