Thurgood Marshall College Fund well-represented at HBCU Honors

December 26, 2025

The Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) was once again well-represented at the annual HBCU Honors award show. 

Morgan State University (Morgan) student Grace Ogunmodede spoke about her experience as a TMCF scholar. 

“TMCF has been truly transformative for me — it’s opened doors to opportunities that helped me grow academically, professionally and personally,” she said. “Through scholarships, leadership development and real-world experiences, I’ve gained the confidence and skills to show up as my best self in every space I enter.”

The information and science systems major first learned about TMCF through social media. Her discovery has since led to financial relief and career opportunities. 

“What makes TMCF special is how it believes in students like me — students from HBCUs and PBIs who have big dreams and the drive to make a difference,” Ogunmodede said. “TMCF doesn’t just change the trajectory of a student’s life — it redefines what’s possible for generations to come.”

The TMCF Board of Directors was also once again represented, with Melonie Parker, vice president of Googler engagement at Google and a TMCF board member, on the program speaking about her experience as a first-generation college student at Hampton University. Parker also introduced the HBCU Rising Star Audition before a performance by the competition’s winner, Ron Johnson of Morgan. 
Students from across the country represented TMCF member schools during the program, which premiered on BET and BET HER on Nov. 30. The broadcast is available in full online

Related News

Thurgood Marshall College Fund hosts its annual Presidents & Chancellors Fly-In on March 24

The Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) will host its annual Presidents & Chancellors Fly-In (Fly-In) on March 24 in Washington, D.C. The Fly-In is a pivotal event for presidents and chancellors from historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), historically Black community colleges (HBCCs) and predominantly Black institutions (PBIs). The event facilitates engagement with key stakeholders, […]

New landmark study from Thurgood Marshall College Fund provides blueprint for strengthening HBCU presidential leadership and institutional success 

For decades, the narrative around historically Black college and university (HBCU) leadership has been defined by a single statistic: the average presidential tenure of fewer than five years. What has been missing is the story of what happens after year five—and what we can learn from the presidents who get there. A landmark new report […]

North Carolina A&T State University junior gains confidence through Verizon Immersion

Ryan Travers, a junior majoring in computer science at North Carolina A&T State University, attended the Verizon HBCU Immersion Program with the Thurgood Marshall College Fund last year, an experience she said helped shape her professional goals.  “I was able to walk away knowing how to better my brand and make myself stand out when […]