Launched by Northwestern Mutual in 2023, the Hometown HBCU Connection Scholarship Program has been implemented as a way of assisting high school students from diverse backgrounds to attend historically Black colleges and universities across the country.
But that’s not all. The recipients are also provided opportunities to participate in the company’s renowned internship program and will be prioritized for any appropriate employment opportunities available upon completion.
After a tour of the company’s luxurious colossal-sized home office campus in the heart of the city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, we had the chance to meet two of nine scholars who received this year’s award, Paishance Collins and Ilstlo Beiersdorf Jr., future students of Morehouse and Fayetteville State, respectively.
“My dad has always told me that education is always the most important thing.” – Paishance
One of the primary objectives of the program is to raise the current nine percent of students in Milwaukee who have completed both high school and college. By not limiting the students to specific universities or colleges, it allows them to select the institution that they believe will provide the best environment for them to thrive.
“Initially, I just wanted to go to an HBCU, and typically I like smaller schools. Fayetteville is one of the smaller HBCUs. After doing my research on the organizations on campus, I learned how they were geared toward the community. That’s what made me believe that this is one for me,” explained Paishance, whose goal is to major in business.
Choosing one of the biggest schools to pursue a degree in computer science, Ilslo’s path to making his decision was entirely different. “Originally, I wasn’t looking at HBCUs at first, but then a Morehouse recruiter came to my school, and he talked with me and four other boys. It opened my eyes to the school and what it had to offer. I visited the campus last October, and it felt like a real home. I feel like it’s the place for me.”
Understanding that education will play a vital role in bettering the community, Northwestern Mutual has allocated $500,000 in scholarships over five years. The financial services company has pledged to award nine students per academic year, with hopes that they will return to Milwaukee and pour back into the local community. The city currently holds the second-highest poverty rate among the 50 largest U.S. cities, with 24.6% of its population living in poverty, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau. It’s with concern about the future of Milwaukee that the company is prioritizing its investment in its hometown. Its leadership seems to understand that the greatness of a corporation is only measured by its benefit to the people around it.
“I feel like it is the best way out. It is the best way to succeed.” – Ilstlo
Both students will be the first in their immediate families to attend college, so Northwestern Mutual is already making a difference with its support.
“I feel like it is the best way out. It is the best way to succeed. Back in the day, you maybe didn’t need to have a degree for certain jobs, but today, you need a degree to do pretty much anything that will earn you real money. Higher education is the way to go if you want to succeed,” Ilstlo explains. “My parents are another reason I wanted to go to college. They never really had the chance to consider college after high school. I want to break the cycle.”
For both Paishance and Ilsto, the opportunity to attend college is vital to their plans for success. With their livelihoods at stake, they adamantly refused to let it go to waste. It’s something that Paishance’s father has instilled in her throughout her learning years.
“For me, it was always school. I never had any other hobbies. I never played basketball. I’m not a musically gifted person. It’s been predominantly school. My head has always been in that direction. My dad has always told me that education is always the most important thing. It is the key to success.
Be’n Original
