PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas (April 12, 2024) – Prairie View A&M University’s PV Nation voted tirelessly for five weeks for The Home Depot’s Retool Your School contest, emerging in sixth place with a $50,000 prize! The award money will go towards improvements to the University’s student park.
Nearly $3 million in grants for campus enhancements were awarded to a total of 42 Historically Black Colleges and Universities, including PVAMU. Albany State University, South Carolina State University and Paine College placed first in their respective clusters, each winning a $150,000 grant.
“The Home Depot has a proud legacy of supporting and uplifting Historically Black Colleges and Universities. We’ve reached more than 82 universities over the last 15 years with many multi-year relationships with the same schools,” said Molly Battin, senior vice president and chief marketing officer of The Home Depot. “Our Retool Your School grants play a crucial role in ensuring that prestigious universities can continue supporting students and their communities through critical campus improvements and innovation lounges that foster creativity and collaboration. These grants go beyond just improving physical spaces: they foster positive outcomes for students and communities across the U.S.”
The Retool Your School Awards Celebration was held on April 11 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. PVAMU Alums Jessica Wright, Natalie Jones and Dwain Martin, members of the PVAMU Atlanta Alumni Chapter, attended the event on behalf of the University.
According to a press release, 67 schools applied for grants, with participating HBCUs separated into three clusters based on student population. More than 7 million votes were cast online by students, staff and supporters – ultimately deciding the top 10 schools per cluster to receive grants ranging from $40,000 to $150,000 for campus improvements.
“Since its inception in 2009, The Home Depot Retool Your School Program has invested more than $12 million in financial support, providing HBCUs with needs-based grants for campus renovations,” the release said.
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