Tavis Smiley is establishing a $50,000 scholarship fund to assist in the recruitment of black students at IU’s School of Public and Environmental Affairs.
Smiley is a radio and television host, author and activist, and graduated from SPEA. Through the scholarship fund, Smiley said he hopes to provide opportunities for black students who might otherwise face barriers to their education.
“My education at IU and SPEA continues to contribute so much to what I’ve accomplished in life,” Smiley said in an IU press release. “As a native Hoosier, I want to do all I can to make sure students from backgrounds like mine can enjoy the same opportunities I did.”
These new scholarships will allow for the continuation of Smiley Scholars — a SPEA scholars program which was established in 2008 and was set to expire this year.
“We are grateful to Tavis for this generous gift and for all he does on the national stage to improve our nation and world,” SPEA Executive Associate Dean Michael McGuire said in the release. “I am pleased to announce that SPEA will match the gift so that we can reach even more students.”
To be eligible for the scholarships, high school students must enroll in SPEA, fulfill all of the qualifications, have financial need and demonstrate leadership skills in their schools and communities. Scholarship amounts will range from $2,000 to $5,000, depending on need.
Preference for scholarships will be given to students who would be first in their families to attend college.
“We are committed to preparing the next generation of leaders for the greater good,” McGuire said in the release. “This new scholarship will help us bring to SPEA a collection of future leaders who are as diverse as possible.”
Taylor Telford
