Benedict College Receives $3.5M Gift from Dominion Energy to Strengthen STEM Programs

Students at [UNCF-member institution] Benedict College will benefit from upgraded equipment in their classrooms and research labs thanks to a $3.5 million gift from Dominion Energy.

Benedict College is one of 11 historically black colleges and universities benefitting from Dominion Energy’s six-year “HBCU Promise.” The program will support endowments, capital projects, operating expenses, and educational programs in clean energy at HBCUs in Virginia, Ohio, North Carolina, and South Carolina.

“Benedict College is immensely grateful to Dominion Energy for its leadership, generosity, and commitment to HBCUs, said Dr. Roslyn Clark Artis, President and CEO of Benedict College. Their long-term investment is providing the college with essential resources to ensure our students access to the most innovative technology that will help prepare them to become leaders in the area of science, technology, engineering, math, and business.”

The gift to Benedict College is among the largest received at the institution and will be used to upgrade equipment and hands-on training for students in the STEM programs and will enhance the college’s research capabilities. A Dominion Energy Scholars Program, both annual and endowed, will also be established to provide up to 15 students with scholarships and paid summer internships. Additionally, the college will be able to use a portion of the funding to relieve some of the operational strain that has been caused by the influx of non-traditional expenses associated with functioning during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Dominion Energy is committed to helping achieve educational equity through our ongoing support of historically black colleges and universities,” said Rodney Blevins, president of Dominion Energy South Carolina. “We recognize the importance of investing long term in these students and their schools, which are an important source of talent that we need to help develop and retain in South Carolina. Dominion Energy is honored to support institutions of higher learning and students who are striving for excellence.”

Dominion Energy also has committed $10 million in scholarships to assist African-American and other underrepresented minority students who reside in the company’s service area. Students can learn more and apply at DominionEnergy.com/EquityScholarships.