Microsoft government’s $1 million endowment hyperlinks North Carolina and Virgin Islands: ‘I might solely dream of this once I was in highschool’
In 1998, Rashida Hodge got here to Raleigh, North Carolina, with a dare to dream past the St Thomas Island the place she grew up. The trail she took by way of North Carolina State College led her to Microsoft right this moment. However she didn’t overlook her humble starting within the Virgin Islands, a US territory. And now she determined to hyperlink her house with North Carolina State via a $1 million endowment with the Group Basis of the Virgin Islands. This can ship one to 2 college students from Virgin Islands to NC State every year with all prices paid — one thing that Rashida might solely dream of when she was in highschool. She needed to cobble collectively scholarships to review in North Carolina however her endowment contains all — full tuition, charges, housing and mentorship for as much as 4 years.“Scholarships modified the trajectory of my life,” mentioned Hodge. “I got here to NC State as a result of others invested in me, and I graduated debt-free as a result of folks I had by no means met believed in my future. Rising up, my dad and mom taught me that for those who imagine in one thing, it’s important to be prepared to make a sacrifice. This scholarship is my manner of paying that present ahead and creating the identical alternative for the following era of Virgin Islands college students,” the Microsoft government mentioned.“I need one pupil to turn out to be two college students, and two college students to turn out to be ten college students, and ten college students to turn out to be a practice,” Hodge advised The Information & Observer. “I truly need this to be probably the most prestigious scholarships and NC State, and open up a bridge for the following era of Virgin Islanders.”Hodge mentioned one doesn’t want extraordinary wealth to take part in philanthropy.The Microsoft techie mentioned the dream is extra invaluable than the cash. Youngsters within the Virgin Islands mustn’t really feel that they cannot dream as a result of they stay in a 32 sq. miles of an island. “The lesson isn’t that I’m particular,” Hodge mentioned. “The lesson is that risk is far nearer than we predict.”
The primary recipient of the scholarship is…
Adaina Smith of St Croix has been chosen as the primary recipient of the Rashida A. Hodge Scholarship. “I’m deeply grateful for the Rashida Hodge Scholarship and mentorship alternative,” mentioned Smith. “It offers me the possibility to attend NC State and totally dedicate myself to my schooling with out inserting monetary pressure on my household. This chance motivates me to develop into a frontrunner who not solely succeeds, but additionally offers again and opens doorways for others.“
Who’s Rashida Hodge?
Rashida Hodge is the company vp, Azure Information and AI Buyer Success at Microsoft, accelerating data-driven transformation for patrons. Previous to Microsoft, Rashida was World Vice President at IBM, with greater than 20 years of expertise as a gross sales and providers enterprise chief spanning management roles in {hardware}, software program and providers applied sciences.Rashida earned a BS and MS in Industrial Engineering at North Carolina State College and an MBA from Duke College Fuqua Faculty of Enterprise.Rashida can be a board member of Sonatype, A Vista Fairness Portfolio Firm, North Carolina State College Board of Guests, Group Basis of the Virgin Islands and Women, Inc.
