Class of 2025 includes first cohort of Strada Scholars
The Strada HBCU Initiative focuses on leadership development and elevating the transformative influence of historically Black colleges and universities. It builds upon what historically Black colleges already do well: provide access to higher education and act as catalysts for social change.
But at its heart, the HBCU Initiative is about students.
Beginning in 2021, the 49 partner HBCUs have chosen a selection of their first-year students as Strada Scholars. These students receive annual scholarships, yearly stipends to offset the cost of participating in internship opportunities, leadership development training, access to work-based learning experience, and exposure and connections to various graduate school and career options to increase postgraduate success.
This year the HBCU Initiative celebrates its fourth year — a milestone that includes the graduation of many students in that first cohort of Strada Scholars.
“Part of the responsibility of education is to help prepare leadership for the next generation, and these graduates are ready to lead in the next step of their lives,” said Daryl Graham, Strada senior vice president of HBCU and engagement. “They already have accomplished so much on their journey through higher education. We are pleased to continue to cheer them on as they launch their careers or continue their education with graduate, medical and law school opportunities.”
The Strada Scholars celebrating graduation are:
- Briana Adeoye, Jarvis Christian University
- Jacob Adkins, Livingstone College
- Feaven Almedom-Jackson, Wilberforce University
- Joseph Anthony, Alcorn State University
- Samrakshyak Bajracharya, Alabama State University
- Kierra Beasley, Fayetteville State University
- Sinclair Bennett, Bennett College
- Eve Beyan, Livingstone College
- Kalenzia Boddie, Alabama State University
- Allison Bolden, Chicago State University
- Abigail Boudreaux, Miles College
- Elaina Brooks, Central State University
- Kobe Brown, Bowie State University
- Taylor Brown, Lincoln University of Pennsylvania
- Imani Burke, Bowie State University
- Marley Burrows, Florida A&M University
- Christian Bussey, Livingstone College
- Tamera Butts, Virginia Union University
- Mykhayla Carroll, Albany State University
- Wilton Cartwright, Philander Smith College
- Tashira Chapman, Mississippi Valley State University
- Jaden Clemon, Miles College
- Sacaria Cooper, Johnson C. Smith University
- Kennedy Cunningham, Drake State Community and Technical College
- AbdulBaqiy Diyaolu, Mississippi Valley State University
- Ericka Drinker, Paul Quinn College
- Diamond Ertchison-Slaughter, Fort Valley State University
- Ezekiel Eze, Jarvis Christian University
- Jordyn Famimiko, Florida A&M University
- Amanda Felix, Southern University at New Orleans
- Janiya Fellows, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
- Neveah Foster, Alabama State University
- Frances Glover-Bey, Wilberforce University
- Maria Muniz Gonzalez, Bennett College
- Collin DeWitt Goodloe, Livingstone College
- J'Keile Hadley, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
- Kayla Hardrick, Miles College
- Zena Hariri, St. Philip’s College
- Gabrielle Harper, Bennett College
- Michael Harrell, Virginia Union University
- Michael Hawkins, Philander Smith College
- Kennadi Haynesworth, Delaware State University
- Nathaniel Herrera, St. Philip’s College
- Rokiyah Hobbs, Tougaloo College
- Connor Howard, Miles College
- Ravyn Hughes, Southern University at New Orleans
- Keyonea Hunter, Grambling State University
- Brandon Isaacs, Lincoln University of Pennsylvania
- Jamie Jackson, Fort Valley State University
- Jeremy Jackson, Central State University
- Kristin Jackson, St. Philip's College
- Rita James, Shaw University
- Darren Jean-Francois, Denmark Technical College
- Janiyah Jenkins, Alcorn State University
- Dariya Jones, Miles College
- KiHyira Jones, Fayetteville State University
- Russell Joseph, Denmark Technical College
- Issamar Kirby, Virginia State University
- Christian Locke, Wilberforce University
- Ijaelle Manuel, Wiley College
- Jalon McAllister-Smith, Fayetteville State University
- Adeja' McCord, Benedict College
- Ashia McDonald, St. Philip’s College
- Micyah McKinney-Cherry, Wilberforce University
- Joshua-Emmanuel McLaurin, Fayetteville State University
- Suzanne Meegan, St. Philip's College
- Sydney Melton, Albany State University
- Qui’Ana Monroe, Virginia State University
- Chandler Morgan, Johnson C. Smith University
- Allissa Nelson, Paul Quinn College
- Anjel-Ali Ormond, Virginia State University
- Nailah Outing, Claflin University
- Nadia Parker, Fayetteville State University
- Jaden Paul, Drake State Community and Technical College
- Andre Payne, Tougaloo College
- JaMya Peoples, Mississippi Valley State University
- Caesar Perez, St. Philip's College
- Yasmine Preston, Paul Quinn College
- Alonna Range, Jarvis Christian University
- Madisyn Reddic, Texas Southern University
- Joy Robinson, Albany State University
- Keenan Robinson, Claflin University
- Luigi Salcedo, Bowie State University
- Andralyn Sandoval, Virginia State University
- D’Vontae Scott, Delaware State University
- Jada Sharp, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
- Jalen Stewart, Miles College
- Khia Stokley, Benedict College
- J'Shawn Stukes, Denmark Technical College
- Terrence Suggs Jr., Harris-Stowe State University
- Jakayla Thomas, Miles College
- She’Marri Townsend, Alcorn State University
- Jazmine Tyre, Drake State Community and Technical College
- Jadelyn Velasquez, Fayetteville State University
- Katelyn Vault, Texas Southern University
- Rmondo Walker, Virginia Union University
- Amari Walker, Claflin University
- Tameria Watkins, Miles College
- Dasia Westerfield, Jarvis Christian University
- Jake Wight, Denmark Technical College
- Destiny Williams, Drake State Community and Technical College
- Kennedi Young, Southern University at New Orleans
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Strada is extending an invitation for each institution to participate in the State Opportunity Index survey and to receive confidential and benchmarked results, free of cost.
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Applied connections between education and work are increasingly a part of undergraduate education in the United States.
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Three-year grants awarded to four institutions will support the expansion of programs designed to help learners succeed during and after completion of their degree or credential.
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A new study from Strada reveals a silver lining at a challenging time in the employment world.
As the U.S. faces a dramatic period of job turnover, economic uncertainty, and postsecondary enrollment declines, employers and educators seek to find ways to meet rapidly changing education and workforce needs.
Phase 2 allows Taskforce on Higher Education and Opportunity members to seek up to $1.5 million ($6.25 million total) to expand efforts to connect education to employment.
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Strada announces the winners in the initial phase of a grant challenge aimed at helping higher education institutions improve career and life opportunities for several disadvantaged populations.
The recognized economic and workforce development leader with successful tenures in Virginia and Louisiana will join the national nonprofit in January 2022.
The grant competition seeks to connect learning with employment for first-generation students, those who struggle to afford education, and students of color.