by Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware
An anonymous donor recently gave $20 million to Paul Quinn College in Dallas, Texas, $20 million, the largest gift the HBCU has ever received in its 152-year history.
“The impact of this gift on our institution and our students, staff, faculty, and alumni cannot be overstated. This moment belongs to every Quinnite who toiled in the vineyard hoping and praying that a moment like this one would come,” Dr. Michael J. Sorrell, president of the college said in a statement.
Paul Quinn College holds a distinctive place in American higher education. It’s the only minority-serving institution recognized as a federal work college, offering a model that combines academic study with professional experience.
New Opportunities
Indeed, for students at the college, and for those who may now consider attending, the donation opens up new possibilities and pathways to success. It’s a reminder of the ongoing importance of HBCUs in American higher education, and their potential to transform lives and communities.
The college plans to use the funds to invest in new academic programs, particularly in fields like banking and finance, where students of color are traditionally underrepresented. It also aims to expand its “Every Quinnite is an Entrepreneur” program.
“We’re going to invest in our Every Quinnite is an Entrepreneur program so that all Paul Quinn students graduate capable of creating jobs,” Sorrell explained.
A significant portion of the gift will bolster the college’s endowment and increase scholarship opportunities, addressing a key concern for many students.
“We’ll put a substantial amount in our endowment and invest in scholarships,” Sorrell said, “because students shouldn’t spend the rest of their lives paying off student loans.”
A Rich History and Commitment to Innovation
Founded in 1872 by the African Methodist Episcopal Church to educate freed slaves and their children, the private, faith-based, liberal arts-inspired college started in Austin, Texas, as the Connectional School for the Education of Negro Youth. In 1877, it relocated to Waco, Texas, as Waco College, and by 1880, it became Paul Quinn. Dallas became the college’s home in 1990.
Today Paul Quinn proudly educates students of all races and socio-economic classes under the banner of its institutional ethos, WE over Me. It is viewed as one of the most innovative colleges in America, one that continuously expands the boundaries of higher education and community advocacy in its quest to eradicate intergenerational poverty.
In recent years, it has gained recognition for its innovative approaches to education, including its urban work college model.
As an urban work college, Quinn provides every residential Quinnite with a 15-hour per week internship with stipends that reduce dependency on student loans. These assignments allow students to gain real work experience, which can lead to better employment possibilities post-graduation. It’s an approach that’s garnered attention, with the college being named HBCU of the Year in 2011.
As Paul Quinn College looks to the future, this gift represents not just financial support, but a vote of confidence in the institution’s mission and approach.
“This moment belongs to all of us – to those who toiled in scarcity and obscurity on campus, dreaming that a day like this would come to those who advocated for us in rooms where we were not in attendance,” Sorrell said. “This incredible gift will be used to move our institution forward in ways that heretofore we could have only dreamed of.”
