Hennessy and The Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) have partnered up to launch of the Hennessy Fellows Program, a $10 million graduate scholarship initiative designed to equip the next generation of African American leaders through financial assistance, access, and real-world skill application. The Hennessy Fellows program is designed to create a diverse pipeline of highly qualified talent over the next 10 years and flood the market with young leaders from historic black colleges and universities (HBCUs) who are fully prepared to take on leadership roles at major organizations.

Now accepting applicants for Fall 2019 at tmcf.org/HFP through May 5, Hennessy Fellows is a groundbreaking graduate scholarship initiative designed to equip the next generation of African American leaders through financial assistance, access to training and professional development experiences, and real-world skill application. 

Dr. Harry L. Williams, President and CEO, TMCF and Jim Clerkin, President and CEO, North America, Moët Hennessy, USA, celebrate the announcement of “Hennessy Fellows,” Thurgood Marshall College Fund’s first-ever corporate HBCU graduate program.
Dr. Harry L. Williams, President and CEO, TMCF and Jim Clerkin, President and CEO, North America, Moët Hennessy, USA, celebrate the announcement of “Hennessy Fellows,” Thurgood Marshall College Fund’s first-ever corporate HBCU graduate program.

“We are honored to announce a ten-year partnership with Thurgood Marshall College Fund,” said Jim Clerkin, President and CEO of Moët Hennessy North America. “As a charter corporate sponsor of the fund, we continue to support the work of this organization in developing a pipeline of talent and future leaders from historically Black colleges and universities. I am proud of the work we have done together to date and look forward to continuing our efforts to build a broader, more inclusive talent base for corporate America.”

Following a thorough application process, the Hennessy Fellows program selects ten high-achieving, high-potential graduate students per year and offers them a one-of-a-kind opportunity. Recipients will be awarded financial assistance towards collegiate graduate level education programs, as well as curated corporate development experiences, including training forums and networking to enhance the exchange of ideas, and provide direct exposure to the inter-relatedness of corporate, social and economic systems. 

The program is open to students enrolled in accredited HBCU or PBI Graduate programs, and offers the following: 

  • 1:1 executive coaching 
  • Up to $20,000 per academic year 
  • $10,000 annual stipend for other educational expenses 
  • Opportunity to compete for a community-related project grant up to $10,000
  • Access to online training forums, boot camps, networking events and professional development experiences

“When such a tremendously successful global brand like Hennessy invests in a higher education non-profit like ours, it tells the world that HBCUs and PBIs have value and are worth investing in, and TMCF is the best steward to carry out such a monumental investment,” said Dr. Harry L. Williams, President & CEO, TMCF. “This is major, and it can’t be overlooked as just a financial contribution, it is a real partnership that is a game changer for the students and our community.”