Tag: Disney UNCF Corporate Scholars

The Walt Disney Company and UNCF (United Negro College Fund) today named the 2024 Disney UNCF Corporate Scholars, a group of high-achieving students from four-year schools around the country, including many historically Black colleges and universities. Scholars will get financial assistance, coaching, and internship possibilities.

Since 2015, Disney has collaborated with UNCF to give diverse storytellers and innovators a platform, thereby creating a pipeline of Black talent who will affect the future of the entertainment business. Disney established the Disney UNCF Corporate Scholars program in 2021 and has since expanded it to include additional financial contributions as well as extended pathways focusing on specific subjects and talents of interest to students.

“The Disney UNCF Corporate Scholars program continues to provide talented college students with the opportunity to expand their personal and professional skills,” stated Tinisha Agramonte, Senior Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer at The Walt Disney Company. “We sincerely hope this experience helps every student excel, hone their craft, and go on to achieve great success in their chosen careers.”

In 2023, Disney added new and existing scholarships to the Disney UNCF Corporate Scholars program, providing a more focused experience to students with specific business interests such as journalism, film and television, and factual entertainment. In collaboration with Andscape, National Geographic, and FX, students will be able to carry on the heritage of legendary storytellers and go on their own adventure with Disney’s global platforms. The four industry-aligned routes are:

• • Rhoden Fellowship: Founded in 2017, Andscape’s one-year sports journalism internship trains aspiring African American journalists from historically black colleges and universities. The fellowship is named for William C. Rhoden, an award-winning sports columnist.
  • National Geographic Content Scholarship Program: Founded in 2021, this program intends to create and promote the next generation of factual storytellers at HBCUs by providing access, opportunity, and exposure to the National Geographic brand and its various multimedia channels. As part of the six-month program, the scholars are assigned a National Geographic mentor and participate in a one-week immersive experience at the company’s headquarters in Washington, D.C., where they will learn about content development, production, publishing, and marketing.
  • FX Storytelling Legacy Scholarship: These scholarships, named after the iconic director and producer John Singleton, are intended to encourage and empower the next generation of daring storytellers who want to follow in John’s footsteps and pursue careers in cinema or television production, directing, or screenwriting.
  • The Walt Disney Company / UNCF Enhanced Corporate Scholars Program: Along with the chance to apply for internships, the program offers professional growth and mentorship throughout students’ academic careers.

Scholars will receive a renewable annual scholarship and the option to apply for paid internships with The Walt Disney Company. The scholars are rising juniors and seniors pursuing degrees in entertainment-related fields such as business, communications, creative writing, journalism, film/media, or science. Mentorship, professional development, career exploration seminars, and consideration for a full-time position with Disney following graduation are among the additional opportunities available to UNCF scholars. To inspire and fire students’ enthusiasm for storytelling, Disney routinely presents guest speakers for UNCF events and invites UNCF academics and staff to advanced viewing of Disney films. Several previous scholars have also successfully transitioned into full-time employment with the organization, embarking on their own journey and expanding on the abilities they learnt while in the program.

Ashley Meeks of the 2021 Disney UNCF Enhanced Corporate Scholars cohort discusses how the program lead to her present position as a Talent Relations Coordinator for Disney Entertainment Television. “The Walt Disney Company/UNCF Corporate Scholars program has had a life-changing impact on me, instilling a strong sense of purpose and camaraderie in my professional path. The program has not only boosted my professional aspirations but has also left an imprint that will last throughout my career,” said Meeks.

The Disney UNCF Corporate Scholars program is part of the Disney Future Storytellers initiative, the company’s commitment to empower the next generation of storytellers and innovators from underrepresented communities.

The 2024 Disney UNCF Corporate Scholars are: