Contact: Crystal Drake, Office of Strategic Communications
Remarks reflect Tuskegee Renaissance Era focus on scholarship, leadership and service
Tuskegee University senior Jaida Bazemore took the stage at the Thurgood Marshall College Fund’s (TMCF) 39th Anniversary Gala last month in Washington, D.C., offering insight into her Tuskegee student success journey and the impact of TMCF with supporters of HBCUs from across the country.
Bazemore is a business administration major concentrating in supply chain management in Tuskegee’s Andrew F. Brimmer College of Business and Information Science. She also serves as Miss Brimmer on Tuskegee’s Royal Court. The gala followed TMCF’s Leadership Institute, which brought together 500 students from 44 HBCUs for professional development and opportunities to connect with corporate partners.
“Jaida represented Tuskegee and the Brimmer College with poise and purpose on a national stage,” said Dr. Sean Rogers, Dean of the Andrew F. Brimmer College of Business and Information Science. “We are proud of the way she used this opportunity to show what investing in HBCU students makes possible.”
In her remarks, Bazemore described working with fellow student Amaya Waymon to create Tiger’s Comfort Corner, an initiative that provides menstrual care products at no cost to students on campus. The initiative, which celebrated one year in March., reflects her commitment to addressing student needs through campus leadership.
That commitment also inspired her to help more Tuskegee students access TMCF’s professional development opportunities. Working with her TMCF talent coaches, Bazemore encouraged greater participation in the organization’s Leadership Institute, with 15 Tuskegee students attending this year compared with nine last year.
Bazemore knows firsthand what those connections can make possible. At last year’s Leadership Institute, she received internship offers from Caterpillar Inc. and Boeing, and interned with Caterpillar last summer, gaining skills that will increase her ability to compete and win in a global workforce.
“I strengthened my data analytics skills, helped govern tariff projects worth $8 million, and gained a deeper understanding of how procurement processes work and affect our economy, said Bazemore, a Birmingham, Alabama native with a 3.7 GPA. During her remarks, she used her experience to illustrate how scholarships, mentorship and career opportunities can help HBCU students continue their education and build their professional futures.
“For me, TMCF has been more than just a conference or an organization,” Bazemore said. “It has been a stepping stone in my professional journey, connecting me to opportunities, relationships, mentorship, and experiences that have helped shape the young professional I am becoming.”
The gala, TMCF’s largest fundraising event, brings together corporate executives, government leaders, philanthropists, and supporters from across the nation to celebrate the achievements of HBCU students and alumni.
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