Ranked No.1 Historically Black College or University in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, Spelman College is a global leader in education focused on helping students successfully reach graduation. Tri Star CEO Lou Taylor recently announced the Finish Line Scholarship for Spelman graduates who need support to join their peers on the graduation stage.
In June of 2020, Lou Taylor and the Tri Star leadership team determined they would create action items that supported the Black Lives Matter Movement. During the presentation, Lou Taylor announced Tri Star would create a college grant program that could serve the Black community. Tri Star determined that Spelman would be the first recipient of the $70,000 Finish Line Scholarship.
“When we announced to the Tri Star staff which HBCU we were going to partner with for our scholarships, many staff members shared their personal success stories and how the financial support they received along the way made such a difference for them and their families,” says CEO Lou Taylor. “Among them was a staff member with their own Spelman story. We knew right then and there we had made the right choice by partnering with Spelman College for our Finish Line Scholarship.”
Spelman College has a current graduation rate of 76 percent—much higher than the 44 percent national average of graduating African American students and higher than all other HBCUs. Additionally, one-third of students move immediately into a graduate or professional school after graduating from Spelman.
The College is committed to being one of the nation’s leading producers of Black women who go on to earn Ph.D.s in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The college has been ranked among the top 100 national liberal arts colleges by U.S. News & World Report.
The Tri Star Sports & Entertainment Finish Line grant program was set up to support Black students who have excelled in school and need financial support to complete their degree. Tri Star worked with Spelman President Dr. Mary Schmidt Campbell and Vice President for Institutional Advancement Jessie Brooks to create the Tri Star Sports and Entertainment Group Finish Line Scholarship.
Taylor says this is not a one-time act, but a plan to establish future opportunities for Spelman students. The fund will continue to offer financial support to those who are nearing their last days with the school.
Tri Star hopes to be able to grow the scholarship program each year, providing more funds to more students in the years to come. “It is such an honor to use our resources to support the students at Spelman,” a company statement said.
