Gramblinites earned over $17,000 in New York at the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) annual 2010 Leadership Institute recently. A small group of Grambling State University students were interviewed and selected to attend an invitation only leadership institute in New York, where there were 47 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and six law schools represented by over 600 high caliber students.
The theme of this year’s annual institute set by the newly appointed and very charismatic CEO Johnny C. Taylor Jr. was, “Changing the world one leader at a time.”
This was done in part by a rigorous schedule of technical seminars that were put on by some of the 100 corporate sponsors that attended the event.
Some topics covered included; navigating a corporate career, becoming globally competitive, and being African American in corporate America.
In addition to the seminars were an abundance of opportunities to network and interview for internships and jobs with America’s leading firms and corporations and a large scale career expo.
The Gramblinites stood out as leaders among the 600 plus delegates as they displayed their Grambling pride when they wore their old school G sweaters during the opening night reception, receiving numerous compliments from the president/CEO of TCMF Johnny Taylor, senior advisor to TMCF and Thurgood Marshall’s son John Marshall, as well as other delegates and school representatives.
The Gramblinites made such an impression during the that Dr. Joyce Payne, founder of TMCF will attend Grambling’s Spring graduation and Taylor asked that Grambling call upon him any time to come to the university and speak.
Some of the highlights of the trip included the $17,850 in scholarship money awarded to Grambling students.
This award does not include the costs of those who were awarded travel expenses and lodging cost waivers due to their corporate scholarships and acceptance into the Teacher Quality Retention Program.
This program serves an initiative of TMCF to increase the quality and quantity of African Americans in teaching.
There was a host of company CEOs and community leaders that conducted sessions.
Among the people who came out to mingle with the bright leaders of tomorrow included executives such as the CEO of Bacardi, Inc., John Esposito, author, entrepreneur, CEO of BCT Partners, winner of The Apprentice session four Dr. Randal Pinkett, author and founder of Got It Going On Empowerment Program Janice Ferebee, celebrities such as comedians Anthony Anderson and Niecy Nash, actress Anika Noni Rose, and singers Patty Labelle.
The TMCF was founded in 1987 in the name of the first African American supreme court justice and advocate for equality in education by Dr. Joyce Payne.
The Thurgood Marshall College Fund works through various channels to fulfill the vision of preparing the next generation of leaders.
To learn more about the many scholarship, internship, co-op, and career opportunities with TMCF please visit their Web site at: www.thurgoodmarshallfund.net or contact your Student Ambassador, Corban Bell, at cb44226@gmail.com.