Washington, DC, June 16, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) and Humpty Dumpty Institute (HDI) are celebrating its first full year of educational programming together with over 2,000 students, attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), participating in HDI's Higher Education Alliance Program on the United Nations (UN).
"This partnership allows HBCU students to be exposed to global opportunities, which are necessary today to remain competitive in a global marketplace," said TMCF President & CEO Johnny C. Taylor, Jr. "The program results exceeded our expectations and we look forward to expanding it to more TMCF member-schools."
As part of its continued partnership, TMCF and HDI designed programming specifically to connect HBCUs to the United Nations to introduce more international and global programming. Over 2,000 students attended 15 events that were held during the 2013-2014 academic year at six of TMCF's member-schools: Alcorn State University, Morgan State University, Virginia State University, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Texas Southern University and Savannah State University. The events included campus lectures, UN-themed conferences, and behind-the-scenes student visits to UN Headquarters in New York. HDI consulted with the schools and senior U.N. speakers were selected to reflect student interest. Topics included sustainable development, peacekeeping, and regionally themed presentations.
"Participating in the Conference on Sustainable Development at Alcorn State University was a great experience," said Matthias Klettermayer, Associate Public Information Officer, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs. "Creating a space for dialogue, in which interactions between students and professionals working on global issues is possible, is an excellent way to spark interest and open new perspectives."
All events were featured on the HDI's website and were updated live on their social media networks, including Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram - always connecting supporters and partners to HDI, TMCF, the HBCU network, the United Nations, and internationally. In addition, the students had the opportunity to become summer interns at various UN missions at the United Nations.
"The Institute is increasingly focused on providing students at HBCUs around the country with opportunities to interact with the United Nations and other global institutions as a way to globalize HBCU campuses," said Ralph L. Cwerman, President and CEO of the Humpty Dumpty Institute. "We want students to be exposed to serious and significant international programming and global trends - something that is in severe shortage right now."
About the Thurgood Marshall College Fund
TMCF is named for the U.S. Supreme Court's first African-American Justice. Established in 1987, TMCF supports and represents nearly 300,000 students attending its 47 member-schools that include public Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), medical schools and law schools nation-wide and in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Through its scholarships and programs, TMCF plays a key role in preparing the leaders of tomorrow. TMCF is a 501(c) (3) tax-exempt, charitable organization. For more information about TMCF and its initiatives, visit www.ThurgoodMarshallCollegeFund.org.