The United States Department of Agriculture gave Hawaii Pacific University a $3.8 million grant to support workforce development through student scholarships and internships related to food, agriculture, natural resources and human sciences, according to an announcement from the university.
Called a NextGen Grant, the funding is designed to support Native Hawaiian-, Alaska Native-, and Hispanic-serving higher education institutions to build and sustain the next generation of its workforce in specific categories through scholarships, paid internships, fellowships and job matching, according to the USDA website. The program is also designed to open up opportunities and pathways to employment in the federal sector.
"At the heart of the USDA NextGen Grant is a commitment to equity and access in higher education,” said Jennifer Walsh, the university's senior vice president and provost, in a written statement. “By providing 75% of the grant funds to scholarships and paid internships for students from traditionally underrepresented populations and first-generation college students, we are also empowering the next generation to become leaders in the food sustainability movement. By investing in these students, we are investing in a brighter future for all."
Of the grant money, $2.4 million will be used to support scholarships over five years, according to representatives of the university. Students will also have access to more than $800,000 in paid internships over the same period. Finally, students will have the ability to receive three scholarships to the Arizona State University's master of science program on sustainable food systems.
HPU is private university, established in 1965 and is home to almost 6,000 students. For more information about the grant, visit the university's website.
