N.C. A&T Receives $250K from Diageo to Establish Endowment Fund

EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. (March 4, 2021) – North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University has received $250,000 from British-based beer and spirits maker Diageo to establish an endowment fund.

N.C. A&T will use the Diageo Endowed Scholarship Fund to provide scholarships to at least 10 students each year in perpetuity who are:

• Enrolled as a full-time student in an academic program of the university
• Pursuing a degree in any major, but preference will be given to engineering, chemistry, marketing and communications majors
• Maintaining a GPA of at least 2.75 and meeting the university's general scholarship requirements

The amount given to N.C. A&T represents a portion of $10 million Diageo is awarding to 25 historically Black colleges and universities in 12 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands. It comes from a $20 million fund is set aside to address the needs of Black communities and businesses.

“As the nation’s leading public land-grant HBCU, we are delighted to have the support of an international corporation with the brand recognition of Diageo North America,” said Kenneth Sigmon, vice chancellor for university advancement. “Our work in education, extension, outreach, and economic development is directly aligned with their dedication to making a difference in the Black community through Diageo North America’s African Heritage Business Resource Group (A.H.E.A.D.). We are grateful for their direct support of us and other HBCUs carrying out the same important work on a daily basis.”

Diageo North America has also committed to building a pipeline of talented leaders through an internship platform over the coming years. The company will provide opportunities for HBCU students to gain valuable work experience at a fast pace that could help them with their career aspirations or jump-start their career in the consumer goods industry.

This initiative was created by working closely with A.H.E.A.D. to focus on the priorities and actions, along with the right partnerships, to make the most meaningful impact in the Black community.

“I am proud to work for a company that shares my commitment to equity and inclusion. Diageo’s long history of supporting efforts to contribute to the greater good, are values that we consistently challenge ourselves to embrace,” said Malcolm Ellis, co-chair of the A.H.E.A.D. Business Resource Group at Diageo North America and Howard University alumnus. “For over a century HBCUs have blazed trails in several disciplines for countless Black professionals and still remain a haven, and a refuge for many. This partnership supports pipelining of talent into business and industry.”