The University of Mary Washington, located in Virginia, in the southeastern United States, started a scholarship in the memory of George Floyd, who police officer Derek Chauvin killed in Minneapolis on May 25. The scholarship is intended to promote and develop the leadership skills of students who are”committed to addressing societal issues disproportionately affecting black and underrepresented communities”, according to a press release on the university’s website.
University’s President Troy D. Paino made the announcement. He and his wife Kelly Paino seeded the scholarship with $5,000, which will serve, according to the press release, “as a challenge” to members of the university community to encourage them to collaborate on this ” to financially assist Mary Washington students who are emerging leaders dedicated to driving action around social issues.”
The goal is for the George Floyd scholarship to reach $100,000.
Allida Black, a Mary Washington University board member, joined the challenge and along with her wife Judy Beck, contributed another $5,000 to the fund.
At its June 10 meeting, the Mary Washington University board of visitors sent their condolences and support to George Floyd’s family and declared their solidarity with ” with the thousands in our country and around the world, including members of the Mary Washington community, who have engaged in peaceful protests to affirm that Black Lives Matter, and to call for an end to the social injustice and systemic racism that permeates the fabric of our country”.
The board of visitors, whose 12 members govern the university, made this statement in a resolution, in which they also pledged to “root out” from the Mary Washington community any practice that stems from “implicit bias, systemic racism” or any practice contrary to the university’s Statement of Values.
The board reaffirmed their adherence to the Statement of Values, “that require our adherence to policies and practices that promote equity, fairness, access and an inclusive environment of mutual respect for all members of the Mary Washington community,” the resolution states.
According to the Statement of Values, the Mary Washington University is committed to providing a “diverse, accepting and supportive environment” so that members of its community –faculty, staff and students—hold up to high standards of conduct, scholarship, inclusiveness, respect and engagement.
“Through a commitment to these values, we strive to transform our academic community into a place where all will learn, thrive, and grow,” the Statement of Values declares.
According to the press release, the university has been more actively promoting diversity since 2017, under Paino’s administration, which started in 2016. The role of the Vice President for Equity and Access was recently created, emphasis has been placed on making hiring more diverse employees, and conversations and trainings have been opened about racism, implicit prejudice and micro-aggression.