The McMillan-Stewart Foundation Invests $300,000 in Bowie State

Non-profit Honors Congressman Elijah Cummings

MEDIA CONTACT: David Thompson, dlthompson@bowiestate.edu, 301-860-4311

(BOWIE, Md.) – The McMillan-Stewart Foundation has invested $300,000 in Bowie State University to establish an endowed scholarship in honor of the late Maryland Congressman Elijah Cummings to provide financial support to Bowie State students. 

“I can’t fully express the gratitude we have for the McMillan-Stewart Foundation for establishing an endowment that addresses the single greatest obstacle to graduation facing Bowie State students: a lack of financial resources,” said Brent Swinton, vice president of philanthropic engagement at the university. “In the same spirt of the life and legacy of Elijah Cummings, this scholarship will help students earn their degrees, prepare them for positions in the public and private sectors or as entrepreneurs, and will reduce the debt they will incur to finish college.” 

The McMillan-Stewart Foundation was established in 2001 in Baltimore to realize the vision of its founder, Genevieve McMillan, and to commemorate the life and work of her friend, artist Reba Stewart. A primary goal of the foundation the elimination of racism in American society by funding projects to develop the leadership capacity of African American youth.  

“The McMillan-Stewart Foundation seeks to realize the vision of its founder, Genevieve McMillan, who supported the arts as a vehicle for understanding the diversity of human experience and believed that we should work for equality and justice for all,” said Kibebe Gizaw, president of the foundation. “Congressman Elijah Cummings shared these same virtues which is why we made an investment in Bowie State in his honor.”  

Newly established scholarship endowments mature over two years, after which time award funding will be produced annually in perpetuity. All undergraduate students at BSU with a minimum grade point average of 2.5 and who have completed a Free Application for Federal Student Aid form will be eligible to apply for the McMillan-Stewart Foundation Scholarship.

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