Netflix and Howard University have established a $5.4m scholarship in the name of alumnus Chadwick A. Boseman. The Chadwick A. Boseman Memorial will cover four years’ worth of tuition for incoming students at Howard University. The University recently renamed its College of Fine Arts after the Black Panther star.
Boseman’s wife, Simone Ledward-Boseman, supported the scholarship and Netflix’s sponsorship. She thanked Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos and other Netflix executives for “continuing to honor” the late actor’s work.
“Many exemplary artists are not afforded the opportunity to pursue higher learning, we hope to support as many students as possible by removing the financial barrier to education. This endowment represents Chad’s devotion to the craft, his compassion for others, and his desire to support future storytellers,” said Ledward-Boseman.
The scholarship began awarding students this fall semester by selecting one recipient from each class. Recipients must have strong skills within the arts as well as demonstrating a need for financial aid.
“It is with enormous pride that we announce our endowment of the Chadwick A. Boseman Memorial Scholarship. While he was taken from us too soon, his spirit is with us always in his work and the good that he has inspired. He always spoke of his time at Howard and the positive way it shaped his life and career. Now, we will have the opportunity to give many future superheroes a chance to experience the same” said Sarandos. “We are grateful to Simone and Chadwick’s whole family and our partners at Howard University for making this possible.”
The first recipients for the Chadwick A. Boseman Memorial scholarship are Sarah Long, a freshman in musical theatre; Shawn Smith, a sophomore studying acting; Janee’ Ferguson, a junior in theatre arts administration; and senior Deirdre Dunkin who studies dance.
