Students at Wilberforce University will be able to take advantage of expanded offerings in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) thanks to a recent grant from Dominion Energy. As part of a program called “HBCU Promise,” the power and energy company has selected 11 total Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to donate to over the next six years! $25 million dollars has been set aside for this initiative to go fund educational programs, endowments, capital projects, and operating expenses. Read more from the press release below on the impact this grant is having at Wilberforce! Natalie Coles, Vice President of Institutional Advancement at Wilberforce couldn’t be happier!
“We are so grateful to Dominion Energy for this generous donation! Never in our lifetime have students faced such hardships to attend school. Because of this meaningful gift, Wilberforce students will get the tech support they need to successfully attend classes in safe environments. We can’t thank you enough!”
The half million dollar donation also finances STEM scholarships and the launch of the university’s inaugural Bayard Rustin Lecture Series on Racial Equality, named in honor of the architect of the historic 1963 civil rights March on Washington. Rustin was a student at Wilberforce. The university is also grateful the Dominion gift has purchased laptops for all enrolled students and faculty for the fall semester’s remote learning and teaching experience. The school’s academic schedule was adjusted for off campus study because of concerns about the potential spread of COVID-19.
“Dominion Energy is proud to partner with Wilberforce University in supporting scholarships and other grant dollars to provide basic necessities for students to fully engage and succeed in their college experience,” said Leighton McCoy, Vice President of Gas Distribution Technical Services at Dominion. “We look forward to uplifting Wilberforce University students and highlighting their achievements as they pursue excellence and success.”Dominion Energy also has committed $10 million in scholarships to assist African-American and other underrepresented minority students who reside in the company’s service areas. Students can learn more and apply here.
