1865 Freedom Legacy Scholarship Fund
The State College Juneteenth celebration was founded in 2020 by the State College NAACP and hosted in partnership with the State College Borough, Center for the Performing Arts at Penn State, and the Happy Valley Adventure Bureau. On June 17, 2021, the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act was signed into law by President Joseph Biden, making Juneteenth a national holiday in celebration of June 19, 1865, when Major General Gordon Granger ordered the final enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation in Texas following the end of the Civil War.
This scholarship recognizes the community service and academic excellence of racially underrepresented and indigenous students. The scholarship was established by the 2024 Juneteenth planning committee, comprising Leslie Laing, Sita Frederick, and Chiluvya Zulu, who believe "that by supporting the next generation of scholars, we are building a legacy that creates cultural awareness, cultivates civic engagement, and promotes inclusion at the high school level."
Donate to
1865 Freedom Legacy Scholarship Fund
Supporting historically racially underrepresented and indigenous students in the State College and Bellefonte area who are pursuing a post-secondary education.