WASHINGTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Immediately, UNCF (United Negro Faculty Fund) and Sony Interactive Leisure (SIE) introduced a brand new $2 million scholarship program geared toward supporting Black college students attending traditionally Black faculties or universities (HBCUs) involved in gaming growth as a profession. UNCF (United Negro Faculty Fund) will recruit for and administer the newly established HBCU Pc Science Scholarship. This system will probably be obtainable to greater than 50 college students majoring in laptop science or laptop engineering who want help. The scholarship is supported by the PlayStation Profession Pathways Program.
SIE’s monetary contribution will help the scholarship and scholar participation within the UNCF Tech Innovation Summit, an important part of UNCF’s mission. The summit helps to organize college students with much-needed skilled growth as they transition into jobs within the tech and gaming trade.
“We’re thrilled to have Sony Interactive Leisure’s dedication to create this new scholarship as a part of our academic program. By way of the HBCU Pc Science Academy program, SIE will spend money on the preparation of a strong HBCU laptop science scholar pipeline and produce extremely certified and motivated scholar cohorts, eligible for choice into this program,” stated Maurice E. Jenkins, Jr., govt Vice President and Chief Improvement Officer at UNCF. “This contribution opens new pathways for our college students and we look ahead to persevering with our work with SIE.”
Dr. Chad Womack, Sr. Director of Stem Initiatives and Applications, and the UNCF Pupil Skilled Improvement Program (SPDP) workforce is working along with SIE to develop and implement a custom-made scholar growth program as a part of the scholarship program with the aim of getting ready them for internships and jobs within the gaming trade. SPDP actions will embody each resume and interview preparation; and serving to college students to learn to navigate company tradition.
“We need to leverage the ability of schooling and assist present alternatives for the subsequent era of Black and different underrepresented expertise getting into the gaming trade,” stated Tiffany Johnson, Senior Director and Head of International DE&I at Sony Interactive Leisure. “We imagine {that a} extra numerous, inclusive, and accessible trade will contribute to larger innovation and storytelling. For us, this begins by investing in underrepresented expertise and creating extra publicity and visibility for them. The brand new scholarship supported by the PlayStation Profession Pathways Program is aimed to drive significant change alongside lots of our different initiatives.”
The primary group of scholars to obtain the scholarship will probably be this fall.
About UNCF
UNCF (United Negro Faculty Fund) is the nation’s largest and simplest minority schooling group. To serve youth, the neighborhood and the nation, UNCF helps college students’ schooling and growth by means of scholarships and different applications, helps and strengthens its 37 member faculties and universities, and advocates for the significance of minority schooling and faculty readiness. Whereas totaling solely 3% of all faculties and universities, UNCF establishments and different traditionally Black faculties and universities are extremely efficient, awarding 13% of bachelor’s levels, 5% of grasp’s levels, 10% of doctoral levels and 24% of all STEM levels earned by Black college students in increased schooling. UNCF administers greater than 400 applications, together with scholarship, internship and fellowship, mentoring, summer season enrichment, and curriculum and school growth applications. Immediately, UNCF helps greater than 60,000 college students at over 1,100 faculties and universities throughout the nation. Its brand options the UNCF torch of management in schooling and its widely known trademark, ‟A thoughts is a horrible factor to waste.”® Study extra at UNCF.org or for steady updates and information, comply with UNCF on Twitter at @UNCF.
About Sony Interactive Leisure
Acknowledged as a worldwide chief in interactive and digital leisure, Sony Interactive Leisure (SIE) is liable for the PlayStation® model and household of services and products. PlayStation has delivered innovation to the market for the reason that launch of the unique PlayStation in Japan in 1994. The PlayStation household of services and products embody PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, PlayStation®VR, PlayStation™Retailer, PlayStation®Plus, and acclaimed PlayStation software program titles from PlayStation Studios. Headquartered in San Mateo, California, SIE is an entirely owned subsidiary of Sony Group Company and has international capabilities in California, London and Tokyo.