Foundation Donates more than $55,000 in Scholarships; Two NCCU Students Join Paramount Plus Storytellers Lab
North Carolina Central University (NCCU) celebrates the continued partnership with the Tom Joyner Foundation. This spring, the foundation contributed more than $55,000 for scholarships to students within the College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities, as well as student-athletes.
To date, the foundation has donated more than $670,000 to the university.
“As a proud NCCU alumna, I’m thrilled to see our partnership continue to grow in ways that truly impact students,” said Sherise Malachi ‘01, who leads partnerships and programs at the Tom Joyner Foundation. “With support from our top corporate partners, we’re not just funding education—we’re creating pathways for students to lead and thrive in industries where diversity and innovation are essential.”
Two NCCU students—Emanuel Craig and Kennedi Fludd, both sophomores—have been selected to participate in the prestigious Paramount Plus Storytellers Lab, a competitive initiative that nurtures emerging talent from historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs).
“We hope that these two inaugural students will be the start of many other Eagle scholars, who will excel with the Storytellers lab,” said Charles Jennings, executive director of the career and professional development center at NCCU. “What is also great about this accomplishment is that we have two amazing students who will serve as our first-ever ambassadors in the program.”
The program offers hands-on creative development, networking and mentorship with top professionals in the entertainment industry.
Through this collaboration, NCCU students are equipped with the resources and the platform to share stories that reflect their communities and shape the future of media.
The renewed partnership underscores NCCU’s dedication to academic innovation, student support, and alumni engagement.