Alabama A&M University students made an impressive mark at the 2025 Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) Leadership Institute in Washington, D.C., earning scholarships, national recognition, and dozens of career opportunities with leading employers.

21 AAMU scholars joined nearly 500 student leaders from 57 publicly supported HBCUs and PBIs for the four-day conference, designed to build leadership skills and prepare students to compete in the global workforce.

Hosted annually by TMCF, the Leadership Institute is an award-winning national program that develops students’ leadership skills, fosters a community of scholars, and provides access to top-tier corporate partners. A signature component of the experience is the Recruitment Fair, where Fortune 500 companies, non-profits, and government agencies conduct interviews and extend offers for internships and full-time employment.

Together, the AAMU delegation completed 63 interviews with major corporations and government agencies, securing nearly 50 internship and job offers. Top employers included Lockheed Martin, Apple, John Deere, Wells Fargo, UnitedHealth Group, Truist, Caterpillar, CVS/Aetna, Boeing, Pfizer, Coca-Cola, Vanguard, Deloitte, FedEx Services, Mastercard, and PepsiCo, among many others.

Junior A’Maya Jackson of Detroit, Michigan, received a $1,000 scholarship from Cargill for her outstanding performance. Senior computer science major and Honors Scholar Riley Robert also earned national attention as one of the student speakers at the conference. His story, spotlighting his AAMU journey and TMCF experience, is currently featured on the Thurgood Marshall College Fund website.

“The Leadership Institute has been a game changer for me,” said graduating senior Terry Dukes. “The opportunities I’ve secured are not just an individual success – they reflect the excellence, drive, and leadership cultivated at Alabama A&M.”

An informational session will be held later this month for students interested in applying for the 2026 Leadership Institute or other TMCF programs. For details, contact Carla Draper-Holloway, assistant director of the Honors Program and TMCF Campus Coordinator, at carla.holloway@aamu.edu or 256-372-5385.