Sustain Our Future Foundation Awards $10,000 Scholarships to 10 HBCU Students in Honor of Environmental Leaders
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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August 7, 2026
Washington, DC - Sustain Our Future Foundation proudly announces the recipients of its 2026 Sustainable Justice Scholarships, awarding $10,000 each to 10 students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Each scholarship is named in honor of a distinguished environmental or sustainability leader whose legacy has helped shape the fight for climate action and community well-being.
These scholarships support the educational and leadership journeys of rising changemakers and serve as a tribute to the groundbreaking contributions of movement leaders, past and present, whose vision has laid the foundation for a just and sustainable future.
“The future of climate and environmental justice depends on investing in the people who will shape it,” said Yinka N. Bode-George, Founder and CEO of Sustain Our Future Foundation. “These scholarships recognize leaders whose work has strengthened communities while creating opportunities for the next generation to build on that foundation with new ideas, new partnerships, and a deep commitment to justice.”
The 2026 Sustainable Justice Honorees and Student Scholars Are:
Dr. Na'Taki Osborne Jelks – honored through the scholarship awarded to Kelsey Harpe, Spelman College
Delaware Representative Larry Lambert – honored through the scholarship awarded to Kayla Bonds, Delaware State University
Arthur E. Frazier III – honored through the scholarship awarded to Tyrone D. Wallace, Morehouse College
Dr. Olugbemiga Olatidoye – honored through the scholarship awarded to Aliyah Jackson, Clark Atlanta University
Samuel Jordan – honored through the scholarship awarded to Evan Harvey, Morgan State University
Nancy Metayer – honored through the scholarship awarded to Yasmyn Sutherlin, Xavier University
Donna Chavis – honored through the scholarship awarded to Afia Boatey, North Carolina A&T University
Kerene Tayloe – honored through the scholarship awarded to Gianna Pearson, Tennessee State University
Susana Almanza – honored through the scholarship awarded to Michiya Young, Texas Southern University
Dr. Sacoby Wilson – honored through the scholarship awarded to Jule’ Boudreaux, Howard University School of Law
The Sustainable Justice Scholarships are part of Sustain Our Future Foundation’s broader effort to recognize and invest in emerging leaders who are advancing environmental and climate justice in their communities and fields of study. Scholars are selected based on academic excellence, commitment to sustainability, and a demonstrated vision for equity-centered leadership.
For more information about the Sustainable Justice HBCU Fellowship Program or to support Sustain Our Future Foundation’s mission, please visit sustainourfuture.org or contact Naadiya Hutchinson at naadiya@sustainourfuture.org.
About Sustain Our Future Foundation
Sustain Our Future Foundation (SOFF) is a national nonprofit organization that collaborates with corporate sustainability teams to de-risk and deepen the impact of sustainable infrastructure projects by ensuring that local communities' priorities are part of the planning, siting, and development phases of these projects. Our goal is to raise the standard of sustainable development to promote economic development, community partnership, local self-determination, and environmental health for all communities.