For more than three decades, Honda has positively impacted the lives of nearly 300,000 HBCU students and awarded over $14 million in grants supporting HBCU education programs and facility improvements. Through the “Drive the Legacy” initiative, Honda partners with HBCUs and organizations such as the National Urban League, as well as local UNCF chapters, to pursue various grant programs, including the Honda Thurgood Marshall College Fund Immersion Experience, and the Honda DreamCab YouTube series, which awards students with prizes for engaging in an educational quiz show.
“Honda is proud to support HBCUs in their unique and critical role of providing higher education and opportunities for advancement to the Black community,” said Yvette Hunsicker, vice president of Corporate Social Responsibility and Inclusion & Diversity and Chief Diversity Officer at American Honda Motor Co., Inc. “Drive the Legacy builds on the special relationship that has developed between Honda and HBCUs and will serve as the foundation for new opportunities we can create for students and the HBCU community.”
Honda Thurgood Marshall College Fund Immersion Event
In August 2023, Honda hosted 28 HBCU students at its Ohio manufacturing and R&D operations for the company’s first-ever immersion event with the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF). This unique four-day experience provided TMCF scholars with educational and career development opportunities, as well as an immersion into Honda operations and culture. Students toured the company’s Marysville Auto Plant and North American Auto Development Center; participated in discussions with Honda associates, leaders and members of the African American Resource Collaborative (AARCH), a Honda Business Resource Group (BRG); and even had the opportunity to take hot laps in an Acura NSX supercar driven by members of the Honda of America Racing Team (HART).
“We’re excited to provide HBCU students unique opportunities to learn about Honda and the many exciting careers available across our U.S. operations in engineering, manufacturing, supply chain management and other areas,” said Hunsicker. “We believe a diverse and inclusive workforce yields innovation and creativity, and our hope is that when HBCU students are thinking about their future, they can envision themselves as part of our team and consider a career at Honda.”
Honda University Grant Support
Honda’s commitment to HBCUs extends through various grant programs. These include supporting STEAM and scholarship programs, research, traffic safety initiatives, early childhood development, mobility and environmental initiatives. Examples of these programs include the Alabama A&M University’s STEM Star Scholars Initiative, the Alabama State University Traffic Safety Program, the FASTRAC Program with Tuskegee University and the JELMA Summer Youth Arts Institute at Morgan State University.
“The enthusiasm and talent we’ve seen from students at institutions like Tuskegee University are truly inspiring,” said Jonathan Lessa, FASTRAC Program Lead, Alabama Auto Plant (AAP) Quality Manager and Chair of the AAP African American Resource Collaborative of Honda (AARCH) Business Resource Group (BRG). “While the FASTRAC Program is just one example, it highlights the broader impact of Honda’s commitment to HBCUs. Our support goes beyond individual programs; it’s about empowering the entire infrastructure and academic fabric of these universities. This approach not only nurtures student potential but also aligns with Honda’s vision of fostering diverse and innovative future leaders.”
