HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Oakwood University is creating a George Floyd Memorial Scholarship Fund, to help students receive an education and to honor George Floyd.
Floyd died after a Minneapolis Police officer knelt on his neck during an arrest on May 25th. His death has now sparked a national movement to end police brutality and to fix the systematic racism in our country.
Oakwood University says they are taking part in the challenge issued by President Dr. Scott Hagen of North Central University in Minneapolis, MN to establish a George Floyd Memorial Scholarship to support students. During Floyd's funeral service held on June 4th, Hagen was quoted as saying, “I am now challenging every university president in the United States to establish your own George Floyd Memorial Scholarship Fund.”
“What better way to memorialize Mr. George Floyd than to rally donors to his memory and bless some young man with the gift of education! Oakwood accepts the responsibility for guaranteeing that Mr. Floyd did not die in vain’” said Dr. Leslie Pollard, President of Oakwood University.
On May 31st, President Pollard issued a statement on Floyd's death, saying in part:
"Great thinkers will leave Oakwood's sacred grounds, to not only make a dollar, but to make a difference. Mr. Floyd, and all of the Mr. Floyd's of the past 400 years, deserve this commitment from our institution. Moral passivity is not an option!"
Oakwood University says that as an HBCU, historically Black college university, they were established by the Seventh-day Adventist church in 1896 to educate Black people for self-sufficiency and spiritual transformation.
The scholarship is being established at Oakwood University in memory of George Floyd and to honor his life by supporting students pursuing higher education in preparation for a life of service.
To donate to this fund, click here.