NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TSU News Service) – The head of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) visited Tennessee State University on Oct. 22 and got an opportunity to see firsthand the impact the organization is having with students participating in its program.
Dr. Harry Williams attended a welcome luncheon with TSU President Glenda Glover, administrators, faculty and students before taking a tour of the campus. Dr. William’s visit is a part of his tour of the historically black colleges and universities associated with the Thurgood Marshall College Fund.
During the luncheon, President Glover lauded Williams for his leadership, and expressed her gratitude to Thurgood Marshall College Fund for helping to keep students enrolled at TSU.
“We get a chance to thank you, for all you’ve done for us to keep our students here at TSU,” said Dr. Glover.
“The Thurgood Marshall College Fund provides the resources needed to help students transition from the classroom to the corporate world with professional development, internships and scholarships. This is an added value when students enroll and earn a degree from TSU.”
Williams told the packed room that TSU is the 27th HBCU he has visited in the last nine months. TMCF represents 47 HBCUs and raised over $300 million for them. He said 97 percent of students who receive scholarships graduate, which is attractive to employers.
“What I have learned is that there is a need for the TMCF organization, and there is a big need in this country for what we do,” Williams said. “Corporations want our talent, and they want it bad, because we provide a great opportunity for people to grow and develop.”
The work of TMCF was highlighted in a TSU produced video of students benefitting from scholarships and internships. Each student proclaimed, “I’m still here” because of the financial assistance from Dr. Williams and the college fund. Visit https://vimeo.com/296361411/3c553d3fc9 to view the video.
TSU junior and scholar Tiara Hudson, a first-generation college student, is one of those grateful for the financial assistance that allowed her to remain at TSU after exhausting all other available aide.
“It’s just remarkable how impactful TMCF is, to not only TSU, but to colleges across the U.S.,” said Hudson, a business administration major from Knoxville, Tennessee. “Without TMCF, I probably would not be here.”
Charles Jennings, director of the TSU Career Development Center, believed the visit was paramount to the center’s continued success in helping students excel academically and as potential employees in the corporate world.
“TMCF not only provides scholarships that assists students with their financial needs while in college, but it also allows them the opportunity to interact with executives from Fortune 1000 corporations that may not necessarily come to HBCU campuses career fair,” said Jennings.
To learn more about TSU’s Career Development Center, visit http://www.tnstate.edu/careers/index.aspx.
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With more than 8,000 students, Tennessee State University is Nashville’s only public university, and is a comprehensive, urban, co-educational, land-grant university offering 38 bachelor’s degree programs, 24 master’s degree programs and seven doctoral degrees. TSU has earned a top 20 ranking for Historically Black Colleges and Universities according to U.S. News and World Report, and rated as one of the top universities in the country by Washington Monthly for social mobility, research and community service. Founded in 1912, Tennessee State University celebrated 100 years in Nashville during 2012. Visit the University online at tnstate.edu.