Apple continues to invest into diversity as the company is partnering with Thurgood Marshall College Fund to create a new internship program.

According to theroot.com, Apple has created the Apple HBCU Scholars Program with Thurgood Marshall College Fund with the hope of increasing the number of minorities at Apple.

“This year, 31 students from HBCUs will each be awarded $25,000 during their senior year of study. They will also participate in a 10-day see-it-all visit to the company prior to the three-month internship. Additionally, each student will be paired with an employee from Apple during his or her time in Cupertino, Calif., where Apple is headquartered.”

If applying, students must maintain a 3.3 GPA, and once accepted, each student “must spread the word about the initiative at their respective campuses after their internship is completed.”

Being accepted into the program is great, but students will find that the individual who welcomes them also comes from an HBCU, which is an added plus.

Denise Young Smith serves as Apple’s vice president of worldwide human resources and gives a brief welcome and speech as each student gathers for their first day of their internship.

She’s a graduate of Grambling State University and has been with Apple since 1997. I’m guessing Smith has a big hand in this program coming to fruition and her influence is sure to make it so other HBCU graduates are able to thrive in STEM fields, which are severely underrepresented with women and minorities at present.

For more information on the program and where to apply, please visit www.tmcf.org.

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