Steve Harvey and Billionaire Robert Smith Team Up to Create the Student Freedom Initiative for HBCU Students
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Posted By: Kennedy Williams on December 10, 2021 Legendary Comedian and show host Steve Harvey is teaming up with billionaire tech investor and philanthropist Robert Smith to support HBCU students with what they need. The Student Freedom Initiative, according to Black News, "provides a vast array of resources aimed at helping higher education students attending Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs), including HBCUs, achieve professional, personal and financial freedom." The initiative is centered around providing alternate financial resources to help prevent Black students from having to take out unsubsidized student loans with ridiculously high interest rates. The Student Freedom Initiative currently offers science, technology, engineering, and math majors at a range of HBCUs the opportunity to receive grants up to $20,000 per year to pay for school. Upon graduation and once they are working, students are asked to pay back the money they received in a "pay it forward style" to benefit other students in need. The repayment amount is also solely based on their income. Schools that are currently participating in the Student Freedom Initiative include Alabama A&M University, Benedict College, Bennett College, Bowie State University, Dillard University, Fisk University, Interdenominational Theological Center, Jackson State University, Jarvis Christian College, Lemoyne-Owen College, Miles College, Morris College, Norfolk State University, Shaw University, Texas College, Texas Southern University, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, University of the Virgin Islands, Virginia Union University and Voorhees College. For more details about the Student Freedom Initiative, visit StudentFreedomInitiative.org If you enjoyed this article, Join HBCU CONNECT today for similar content and opportunities via email! |
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Kennedy Williams
From Loganville, GA Spelman College class of 2020 Member Since July 2016 |
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