Fellowship Naming Opportunities
Overview:
At Boulevard's University Scholars Fellowship, we believe in the power of legacy. Just as our fellows are set to leave a lasting impact on the world, we offer our esteemed donors a unique opportunity to etch their mark on the fellowship program itself. By naming a fellowship, donors have the chance to celebrate a loved one, elevate their foundation's mission, or select from one of our thoughtfully pre-chosen names. This is more than just naming rights—it's about intertwining legacy with potential, and history with the future.
African American Women Leaders
Shirley Chisholm
The first black woman elected to Congress, Chisholm also made a historic bid for the U.S. presidency in 1972, breaking barriers in politics.
Mary McLeod Bethune
An educator and political leader, Bethune founded the Daytona Educational and Industrial Training School for Negro Girls and was an advisor to President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Ida B. Wells
A journalist and early civil rights leader, Wells led an anti-lynching crusade in the 1890s, using her platform to shed light on the violence African Americans faced.
Unsung Civil Rights Pioneers
Bayard Rustin
An openly gay civil rights activist, Rustin was a key advisor to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the chief organizer of the 1963 March on Washington.
Ella Baker
A behind-the-scenes organizer, Baker played key roles in the NAACP, Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee.
Claudette Colvin
Before Rosa Parks, 15-year-old Claudette refused to give up her seat on a segregated bus in Montgomery, Alabama. Her courageous act became a precursor to the Montgomery Bus Boycott.
Trailblazing Negro Baseball League Figures
Effa Manley
The co-owner of the Newark Eagles, Manley was the only woman inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. She was not only a successful baseball executive but also a vocal civil rights activist.
Cool Papa Bell
James "Cool Papa" Bell was considered one of the fastest men in baseball. Legend has it he could round the bases in 12 seconds flat and turn off the lights then get into bed before the room got dark. While these tales lean into myth, there's no disputing his genuine speed and skill, making him one of the game's most exciting players.
Buck Leonard
Often dubbed the "Black Lou Gehrig," Leonard was a star for the Homestead Grays, winning numerous Negro League pennants. Off the field, he championed the integration of Major League Baseball and became a spokesperson for the importance of the Negro Leagues in American history.
African American Inventors and Scientists
Dr. Patricia Bath
The first African American female doctor to secure a medical patent, Bath invented the Laserphaco Probe for cataract treatment.
Dr. Charles Drew
A physician and medical researcher, Drew made groundbreaking discoveries in blood storage and set up the first large-scale blood banks during World War II.
Garrett Morgan
An inventor with several patents to his name, Morgan's most notable inventions include the traffic signal and a safety hood that was a precursor to the gas mask.
Champions of Education and Literacy
Marva Collins
After becoming disillusioned with the public school system, Collins founded Westside Preparatory School in Chicago, focusing on high expectations and classic literature.
Charlotte Forten Grimké
The first African American to teach white students in a public school, Grimké was a dedicated educator and civil rights activist.
Carter G. Woodson
Known as the "Father of Black History," Woodson founded Negro History Week, which later became Black History Month.
Black Military Heroes
Tuskegee Airmen
This group of African American military pilots fought in World War II, breaking racial barriers in the U.S. military and proving their mettle in combat.
Doris Miller
During the attack on Pearl Harbor, Miller, without any formal training, manned an anti-aircraft gun, downing several Japanese planes. He was the first African American to receive the Navy Cross.
Crispus Attucks
Widely considered the first casualty of the American Revolution, Attucks was killed during the Boston Massacre, making him an early martyr for freedom.
African American Business and Economic Leaders
Alonzo Herndon
Born into slavery, Alonzo Herndon became one of the first African American millionaires in the United States. After the Civil War, he started his entrepreneurial journey by opening a barbershop in Atlanta which catered to a white elite clientele. His success in the barbering industry allowed him to invest in real estate and, in 1905, he founded the Atlanta Life Insurance Company. Herndon's success story, from slavery to millionaire status, is a testament to resilience, determination, and entrepreneurial spirit in the face of overwhelming adversity.
Maggie L. Walker
The first Black woman to charter a bank in the U.S., Walker's institution provided crucial financial services to Richmond's Black community.
Madam C.J. Walker
Born Sarah Breedlove, Madam C.J. Walker is celebrated as one of the first female self-made millionaires in the United States. She made her fortune by developing and marketing a line of beauty and haircare products for black women.
Black Political Trailblazers
Adam Clayton Powell Jr.
A pastor and politician, Powell was the first African American from New York to be elected to Congress, where he championed civil rights and social justice legislation.
Robert Smalls
Once enslaved, Smalls commandeered a Confederate ship during the Civil War and sailed it to freedom. He later became a U.S. Congressman.
Barbara Jordan
A lawyer and politician, Jordan was the first African American woman elected to the Texas Senate and the first southern black woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.
Pioneers in Health and Medicine
Dr. Jane C. Wright
An oncologist and cancer researcher, Dr. Wright is known for her pioneering work in the field of chemotherapy. In the early days of chemotherapy, she investigated a wide range of anticancer agents and developed new techniques for administering cancer chemotherapy.
Dr. Alexa Canady:
The first African American woman neurosurgeon in the U.S., Canady specialized in pediatric neurosurgery.
Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler
The first African American woman to become a doctor in the U.S. Crumpler practiced medicine in Boston and Richmond, serving the poor.
Sponsor a University Mentee
Individuals, foundations and companies are invited to sponsor a fellowship that enables a student to take part in the Boulevard mentorship program. This is a special opportunity to provide a profound gift to students as they build important life skills, develop a professional network, and prepare to make a difference in their communities.
