Renee Starks Steed Memorial Scholarship Grant

The Renee Starks Steed Memorial Scholarship, offered by the United Negro College Fund, supports HBCU students majoring in fashion-related fields. Aimed at sophomores, juniors, and seniors, it emphasizes academic excellence with a minimum GPA of 3.0. This need-based scholarship fosters diversity, prioritizing students of color, and is part of UNCF's broader mission to enhance educational opportunities for underrepresented communities. Applications for the 2025-2026 academic year are now open.

“A mind is a terrible thing to waste.”®
For more than seven decades, this principle has remained at the heart of UNCF, enabling us to raise more than $5 billion and help more than 500,000 students and counting not just attend college, but thrive, graduate and become leaders.
We do this in three ways: By awarding more than 12,000 students scholarships, worth more than $65 million, each year. By providing financial support to 37 historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). And by serving as the nation’s leading advocate for the importance of minority education and community engagement.
The Renee Starks Steed Memorial Scholarship is open to current sophomores, juniors, or seniors, who attend an HBCU (Historically Black College or University) majoring in fashion, fashion marketing, textile, and apparel design, or a similar area of study. This is a need-based scholarship that will be awarded during the 2025-2026 academic year.

Eligibility

Applicants for the Renee Starks Steed Memorial Scholarship program must meet the following eligibility requirements:
Possess a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.Complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid ("FAFSA") form and have a demonstrated, unmet financial need as verified by their college or university.Be an undergraduate student who is sophomore, junior or senior at a HBCU.Be an undergraduate student who is majoring in fashion, fashion marketing, or some other very similar major, such as textile and apparel design.Residency Status: U.S. national or permanent resident