Two students from Drake State Community and Technical College have each been awarded $20,000 scholarships through the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) to support their academic and career goals.

The recipients were selected to attend the TMCF Workforce Development Summit in Birmingham, Alabama. The summit brought together top-performing students from historically Black community colleges (HBCCs) across the nation and featured career development workshops, professional networking opportunities, and engagement with industry leaders.

The scholarships were awarded in two phases. Each student initially received $10,000 through the Cal and Annette Johnson Scholarship. An additional $10,000 was awarded after the students were selected to participate in the TMCF Workforce Development Summit in November.

Corgan Smith, a Computer Information Systems major, shared how the scholarship has impacted his educational journey:

“Receiving this scholarship has lifted a huge financial burden and has allowed me to focus on my education and career goals. Seeing speakers at the conference and speaking with the people around me has really influenced and inspired me to not only push myself to further my career, but also to work on myself to be the best version of myself. This scholarship and the conference have also helped me network with people I never would have met and provided the opportunity for mentorship that I would not have had without this scholarship and conference.”

Corgan Smith

Australia “Tru” Campbell, a Salon and Spa Management–Barbering major, reflected on the personal impact of the award:

“Receiving the TMCF scholarship changed my outlook on life. It reminded me that my journey has purpose and lifted a major financial burden. More importantly, it strengthened my faith and confidence and allowed me to fully focus on school during a difficult time. I truly believe God made a way when the road felt heavy, and this blessing pushed me to keep going, work harder, and trust Him even more. In everything you do, keep God first—don’t give up, trust the process.”