Bass Public Affairs (BPA) is pleased to announce the launch of the Humphrey-Pinkston Fellows program. The Humphrey-Pinkston Fellows program is offered to students attending historically black colleges and universities. The program is both a mentoring and reverse mentoring program. In addition to learning from business and government leaders, HBCU students share their knowledge and insights with national influencers.
“As a proud alum of an HBCU, Fisk University, I am very excited to launch the Humphrey-Pinkston Fellows program,” said Bass Wilbon. “Our family has long been involved in the HBCU community, and this grant is another way to highlight the incredible impact of HBCUs.”
The scholarship is named in his honor Lula Mae Pinkston-Humphreythe maternal grandmother of the BPA co-founders DeeDeeBass Wilbon And Deana Bass Williams.
“We know that by targeting HBCU students, we’re aiming for American exceptionality,” Bass Williams said. “Bernayl Sparks, our first Fellow, is a testament to the outstanding students in the HBCU community.”
Sparks is a sophomore at Voorhees University in Denmark, South Carolina. She is an active member of the University’s student body, serving as Vice President of the Student Union, Member of the University’s Honors College, and President of the Student Council.
While HBCUs represent only 3% of all colleges, they have graduated 40% of all black engineers, 40% of all black US congressmen, 50% of all black attorneys and 80% of all black judges.
Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis. The program is open to sophomores, juniors, and seniors attending HBCUs. While Bass Public Affairs is headquartered in Washington, D.C, students can participate in the three-month program virtually or in person. Fellows receive a stipend and may pursue independent coursework in accordance with their university’s policies.
Students interested in learning more can visit BassPublicAffairs.com/hbcu.