Santa Monica College (SMC) is pleased to announce the new George Perry Floyd, Jr. Scholarship for Racial and Social Justice, an endowed scholarship created in honor of the unarmed 46-year-old man murdered by Minneapolis police on May 25, 2020. Floyd’s death ignited global protests seeking greater police accountability, equality for racially minoritized people, and an end to systemic, institutionalized racism.
The anonymous donors, one an SMC alum, launched the endowment with a gift to the Santa Monica College Foundation of $20,000, with the goal of raising at least $100,000 by May 25, 2021 — the anniversary of Mr. Floyd’s death — through contributions from supporters of equality and justice for all people of color.
“We are honored to be the recipients of such generosity and hope for our students. Establishing a scholarship with the intention of providing critical support to students of African descent is a critical philanthropic action by the donors,” said Lizzy Moore, SMC Foundation President and Dean of Institutional Advancement. “The humanity and forward-thinking attitude of this gift is emblematic of how important it is to continue to keep the spotlight on the need for racial and social justice for all persons of color. Today.”
The scholarship will provide selected students of African descent with a $2,500 award over two years to help offset the cost of tuition, books, and living expenses while attending SMC. Requirements to qualify for the scholarship include attendance at a high school in Los Angeles County and enrolling at SMC as a first-year, full-time student.
Santa Monica College gave out $712,403 in scholarships during the 2019-2020 academic year — with awards ranging from $250 to $30,000 — to more than 500 incoming students, continuing students, and students transferring from SMC to a four-year college or university. The new scholarship joins 10 other new endowments established this year at SMC, along with 10 new annual scholarships. Currently, the SMC Foundation manages more than 400 different scholarship funds.
More information about SMC’s many scholarships, including the new George Perry Floyd, Jr. Scholarship for Racial and Social Justice and how to support its endowment, is available on the SMC Foundation webpage at santamonicacollegefoundation.org.
Submitted by Lizzy Moore
