Huston-Tillotson University students can raise a glass and clink to the success of winning Ford’s HBCU Community Challenge Competition. The team is taking home a modest check of $75K after presenting their proposal to promote sustainable living.

Along with the Huston-Tillotson University team, Fayetteville State University, Howard University and Tuskegee University sent teams to Ford’s World Headquarters to present their projects. The inaugural Ford competition was met with bright talent aiming to prove their love for creating sustainable communities.

“Having the opportunity to both meet these students and listen to them present projects to help us strengthen our communities has been both refreshing and encouraging,” Shawn Thompson, manager, Ford multicultural marketing, said. “In the end, this program has allowed us to make an impact in the students’ education, their schools and their communities.”

A portion of the team’s award will be a community grant to be awarded to nonprofits in support of implementing the winning project back into the community. – Alley Olivier