Courtesy of Jackson State College Newsroom
Jackson State College, an HBCU in Jackson, Mississippi is the recipient of $1 million from the Jack Kent Cooke Basis to ascertain a scholarship fund for high-achieving college students who’ve monetary want (with choice given to college students pursuing levels in STEM disciplines) and an endowment fund for the aim of offering such scholarships in perpetuity.

“This transformative present isn’t just a monetary contribution; it’s an funding sooner or later leaders of our world, people who will undoubtedly form the panorama of progress and discovery,” stated Jackson State President Marcus L. Thompson, Ph.D. “By offering essential monetary help to gifted college students, the Jack Kent Cooke Basis is empowering them to pursue their educational aspirations and unlock their fullest potential. This fund may also assist them navigate financial obstacles on their path to success.”
In accordance with their web site, the Cooke Basis is devoted to advancing the training of exceptionally promising college students who’ve monetary wants. Since 2000, the Basis has awarded $282 million in scholarships to greater than 3,300 college students from eighth grade by graduate college, together with complete educational advising, profession pathway counseling, and different help providers. The Basis has additionally supplied $133 million in grants to organizations that serve such college students.
“Our nation’s HBCUs are doing unbelievable work to serve underrepresented college students each throughout faculty and in addition set them up for long-term success,” stated Seppy Basili, government director of the Cooke Basis. “As one of many largest HBCUs within the nation, Jackson State College is empowering younger individuals yearly to earn their levels and develop into leaders of their fields.”
Jacqueline Jackson, Ph.D., serves because the interim division chair within the Division of Electrical & Laptop Engineering and Laptop Science. She shared that the funds will likely be used to ascertain the Jack Kent Cooke CSET Students Program, which can present chosen HBCU STEM college students with monetary {and professional} help.

“The scholarship funds can be utilized towards tuition, charges, room, board, and textbook bills. Scholarship quantities will fluctuate based mostly upon a scholar’s total monetary assist profile. As well as, we are going to present college students with alternatives to develop their skilled portfolio as they put together to enter the workforce,” Jackson defined.
In accordance with JSU’s Division of Institutional Analysis, Planning, and Effectiveness, the School of Science Engineering and Expertise on the HBCU is the most important faculty by enrollment with greater than 1,280 undergraduates in Fall 2023.
The Journal of Blacks in Increased Training launched an article in February 2023 stating that although African People are making progress in STEM Fields, a big racial hole stays.
In 2021, Blacks had been about 12% of the grownup inhabitants in the US however made up solely 9% of the STEM workforce. In 2011, Blacks had been 7% of all STEM employees. About 18% of all Black employees had been employed in STEM fields in comparison with 25% of all White employees and 39% of Asian employees.
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