The Forward Foundation is proud to award The Pay It Forward Grant to Tri-County HBCU Alliance on behalf of Black American Engineering Scholarship Award mentor Jacques Smith.
Pay It Forward Grant: Tri-County HBCU Alliance
Smith donates his time and talent as a mentor to The Forward Foundation’s Black American Engineering Scholarship Award.. This initiative not only provides scholarships to students but also pairs them with professional mentors who guide and support them throughout their rigorous academic journeys. Smith’s generous support has allowed the BAESA to diversify and revolutionize the engineering field for the past three years.
As a thank you to program mentors, the Forward Foundation created the Pay It Forward Mentorship Grant. Mentors can direct this $2,500 grant to public charities or educational institutions of their choosing.
Smith directed $1,250 to the Tri County HBCU Alliance, which connects students in South Carolina to the vibrant academic communities at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
Through its alumni network, workshops, and counseling services, the Tri County HBCU Alliance spreads awareness about the rich history of HBCUs and the integral role they serve in today’s world of higher education. The Alliance works with South Carolina teens in Chester, Lancaster, and York Counties as they research colleges, prepare applications, secure scholarships, and ultimately commit to opportunities that will shape their futures. Alliance members bring their wisdom and resources to the next generation of HBCU graduates.
Smith has also directed $250 to the Fort Mill Care Center, which provides essentials to families in need, and $1,000 to Tuskegee University’s Aerospace Science Engineering Department.
