WASHINGTON – Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) and Hennessy announced today, the selection of the inaugural cohort of the Hennessy Fellows. Three of the 10 hand-selected participants are MBA graduate students from Howard University. The Fellows will spend a week in New York City for an intense executive boot camp experience where they will focus on specific competency areas such as leadership, communication, executive presence, accountability and influence, as well as business acumen. Sessions will be led by Hennessy executives, and industry leaders who will provide interactive lectures, simulations, and executive coaching.

Hennessy Fellows is made possible by a $10-million-dollar commitment from Hennessy into TMCF over 10 years.  This groundbreaking graduate scholarship initiative designed to equip the next generation of African American leaders through financial assistance, access to training and professional development experiences, and real-world skill application. Hennessy Fellows plays a critical role in building the pipeline of diverse, executive talent as failure to develop essential levels of competence, credibility, and confidence early on can jeopardize future advancement of minorities, according to Breaking Through: The Making of Minority Executives in Corporate America.

The Hennessy Fellows from Howard University are:

• Kwamè Boatwright of Washington, D.C. 
• Talia Hawley of Landover, Md. 
• Brandon Veal of Chesapeake, Va.

“This impressive group of future C-Suite executives from Howard University will have the opportunity to learn and be mentored by some of the best in the business in Corporate America,” said Harry L. Williams, president & CEO, TMCF. “Our partnership with Hennessy is singularly devoted to our graduate HBCU students making our Hennessy Fellows the new symbol of success.”

The Hennessy Fellows were selected after an exhaustive application process. In addition to the all-expenses paid trip to New York City for the boot camp, each fellow will receive executive coaching, up to $20,000 per academic year, $10,000 annual stipend for other educational expenses, an opportunity to compete for a community-related project grant up to $10,000 and access to online training forums, boot camps, networking events and professional development experiences. 

For more information, including eligibility requirements and how to apply for the second cohort, please visit tmcf.org/HFP.      

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ABOUT THE THURGOOD MARSHALL COLLEGE FUND (TMCF)

Established in 1987, the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) is the nation’s largest organization exclusively representing the Black College Community. TMCF member-schools include the publicly-supported Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Predominantly Black Institutions, enrolling nearly 80% of all students attending black colleges and universities. Through scholarships, capacity building and research initiatives, innovative programs, and strategic partnerships, TMCF is a vital resource in the K-12 and higher education space. The organization is also the source of top employers seeking top talent for competitive internships and good jobs.

TMCF is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, charitable organization. For more information about TMCF, visit: www.tmcf.org.