May the force — of diversity — be with USC.
Star Wars creator George Lucas gave $10 million to support black and Hispanic students at the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts.
Lucas made the donation with his wife, businesswoman Mellody Hobson, through the George Lucas Family Foundation. The money will give financial support to students to help boost diversity at the school.
“Hispanic and African American storytellers are underrepresented in the entertainment industry,” Lucas said in a statement. “It is Mellody’s and my privilege to provide this assistance to qualified students who want to contribute their unique experience and talent to telling their stories.”
The donation is the largest the school has ever received to directly support students.
The George Lucas Foundation Endowed Student Support Fund for Diversity will be awarded to both undergraduate and graduate level students. The first awards will be distributed in fall 2016.
They will be divided equally among male and female students and recipients will be known as George Lucas Scholars or Mellody Hobson Scholars.
“George Lucas and Mellody Hobson are inspiring leaders in their fields, and tremendous friends to the USC community,” said USC President C. L. Max Nikias. “This gift will nurture the next generation of artists, supporting scholarships that enhance access in the cinematic arts, while bringing new and diverse voices and stories into our lives.”
