An HBCU in Little Rock, Arkansas, recently received a multi-million dollar gift to help bridge the financial gap for its students. Philander Smith College (PSC), one of the nation's most accessible colleges for low-income students, accepted a $2.5 million donation from an anonymous donor.

"My heart overflows with gratitude and amazement for the level of transformational generosity by our anonymous donor," Dr. Roderick Smothers, President of Philander Smith College, said. "This monumental donation will provide tremendous opportunities for our scholars who hail from every walk of life. This gesture not only affects the lives of our students but communities across the nation."

The anonymous benefactor first made a $250,000 donation to the HBCU in August of 2021. As a result of this donation, 100 juniors and seniors will receive $2,500 each for the 2021-2022 academic year as part of the Endeavour Scholarship program. The $2.5 million contribution will help expand the Endeavour Scholarship program into a new initiative, the Generational Access and Affordability Program (GAAP).

As part of the new initiative, PSC students will be given direct access to opportunities not always available in low-income communities. In addition to reducing the need for student loans, this will also allow the school to cater to students' individual needs through more flexible scholarships. PSC will begin awarding scholarships for the GAAP in Spring 2022 and over 250 scholarships each year over the next three academic years.

"After two years of trudging through a pandemic, social unrest, and political change, we are beyond excited to be able to provide just what our scholars need to push through to the finish line," Dr. Smothers said. "We are committed to our mission to graduate academically accomplished students grounded as advocates for social justice, determined to change the world for the better."

Dr. Roderick Smothers

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