Quick Search

Active Bloggers

Min Sammy Jackson Min Sammy Jackson
class of
Reginald Culpepper Reginald Culpepper
Clark Atlanta University class of 1998
Hannah Whittenly Hannah Whittenly
Cal St Univ, Sacramento class of 2010
Kamal Imani Kamal Imani
New York Inst of Tech class of 1997
LaMarr Blackmon LaMarr Blackmon
Cal St Univ, Long Beach class of 1992
Sofía Montiel Sofía Montiel
Spelman College class of 2017
Dixie Somers Dixie Somers
Other College... class of 2004
Anica Oaks Anica Oaks
class of 2012

United Negro College Fund Hosted Over 250 Minority Students At Disney For Panda Cares Institute Ft. Pinky Cole & More!

United Negro College Fund Hosted Over 250 Minority Students At Disney For Panda Cares Institute Ft. Pinky Cole & More!
Posted By: Shae Johnson on March 21, 2023

Panda Cares Presented by Panda Express & UNCF returned post-pandemic with a 3-Day Leadership Conference that took place at Disneyworld in Orlando Florida! For over seven decades, UNCF has helped minority students reach their educational goals through scholarships, workshops, galas, and more. During 2023's spring break, Panda Cares brought over 250 college seniors to Disneyworld for an all-expense-paid experience consisting of workshops, on-site field training, and a career fair with top companies such as Wells Fargo, The Walt Disney Company, and AT&T. Scholars joined the conference from 115 institutions including Clark Atlanta University, Grambling State University, Spelman College, Dillard University, Morehouse College, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, and many others.

The conference kicked off with a welcome dinner where the students wore attire that represented their schools and divine 9 organizations. It also consisted of students meeting each other for the first time as they started Panda Cares in 2020 during the pandemic. As they mingled, danced, and listened to guest speaker, Taliah Givens, Senior Director or UNCF, some students were filled with emotions as they soaked in the moment.



One of the program's shining stars, Olorundamilola "Lola" Okemeta was filled with emotion as she expressed her gratitude for the program. Lola is a first-generation college student from Africa. As a sophomore, she was attending college and excelling in the classroom, but she was also homeless. After UNCF found out that she was homeless and sleeping in a train station, they immediately found assistance. Lola is currently preparing for graduation and has been accepted into 4 Ivy League schools to receive her master's degree.

Scholars also participated in a walk-through at Disney's corporate office, where they spoke with executives and heard tips on how to excel in the workplace. After they spoke with executives, they received a surprise visit from Serial Entrepreneur and Clark Atlanta Grad, Pinky Cole of Slutty Vegan. Cole discussed Maximizing Your Passions, How To Navigate In Your Lane When Others Are Selling The Same Product As You, Using Your Platform For A Greater Cause, and Balance Between Self, Personal, and Business Life.

Before wrapping the conference, special guest, Discovery Channel's Ghost Brothers Co-Star Dalen Spratt, held a concurrent session where he spoke to scholars about The Art of Negotiations and getting the salary you deserve.

To learn more about the Panda Cares Scholars Program, go to UNCF.org/PandaCares.http://www.uncf.org/PandaCares
If you enjoyed this article, Join HBCU CONNECT today for similar content and opportunities via email!
Comments
Please Login To Post Comments...
Email:
Password:

 
More From This Author
UNCF Annual Student Leadership Conference Returns In Person May 31-June 2
UNCF 3-Day Panda Cares Scholarship Program Leadership Conference Powered by Panda Express Associates And Guests Returns
Houston-Based Professor Has Inspired HBCU Students Through Film & Cinematography
Latest Famous HBCU Alumni
Texas Southern Alum Michael Strahan Receives Hollywood Walk Of Fame Star

Texas Southern Alum Michael Strahan Receives Hollywood Walk Of Fame Star

NFL legend, “GMA” co-anchor, and Texas Southern University Alum Michael Strahan receives his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. On Monday, Michael Strahan made history as the first person to get a s ...more
Sofía Montiel • 1,301 Views • January 26th, 2023
Chris Paul to become an HBCU Grad on Friday

Chris Paul to become an HBCU Grad on Friday

After years of supporting HBCU causes on and off the court, Chris Paul is finally set to graduate from one. The future Basketball Hall of Famer and current Phoenix Suns guard will take part in comm ...more
Zamara Houtston • 1,118 Views • December 20th, 2022
Chris Paul to become an HBCU Grad on Friday

Chris Paul to become an HBCU Grad on Friday

After years of supporting HBCU causes on and off the court, Chris Paul is finally set to graduate from one. The future Basketball Hall of Famer and current Phoenix Suns guard will take part in comm ...more
Zamara Houtston • 1,113 Views • December 20th, 2022
Notable NBA Players Who Attended HBCUs

Notable NBA Players Who Attended HBCUs

Phoenix Suns star point guard Chris Paul on Friday participated in the commencement ceremony at Winston-Salem State University, a historically Black college in North Carolina. Aside from the fact t ...more
Sofía Montiel • 1,733 Views • December 19th, 2022
Chris Paul Graduates From Winston-Salem State University Years After Leaving College to Play in NBA

Chris Paul Graduates From Winston-Salem State University Years After Leaving College to Play in NBA

Phoenix Suns point guard Chris Paul graduated from Winston-Salem State University on Friday. The 37-year-old finished his bachelor’s degree in mass communications at the HBCU. The new graduate first a ...more
Sofía Montiel • 2,021 Views • December 19th, 2022
Popular Famous HBCU Alumni
Della Miles takes Michelle Obama to the stage in

Della Miles takes Michelle Obama to the stage in "Obama the Musical"

When Della Miles was a student at Prairie View A&M University in Texas, everyone new she would be a brighter star one day having been selected Miss PVAMU and 4th Runner-up to Miss Texas/America 1984. ...more
Frederick Roberts • 68,041 Views • April 11th, 2010
Which HBCU Did Oprah Winfrey Attend?  Check Out More Famous HBCU Alumni!

Which HBCU Did Oprah Winfrey Attend? Check Out More Famous HBCU Alumni!

Oprah Winfrey, the multi media mogul, has garnered international appeal for her talk show. As the first Black woman billionaire in world history, Winfrey has overtaken EBay CEO, Meg Whitman, as the ri ...more
Reginald Culpepper • 29,612 Views • September 30th, 2005
Kerry D. Chandler

Kerry D. Chandler

Kerry D. Chandler, a San Diego, CA native, is the Executive Vice President of Human Resources at the National Basketball Association responsible for leading the league’s global human resources strateg ...more
Ryan Rogers • 28,133 Views • May 3rd, 2011
Wale

Wale

Did you know that rapper Wale attended 2 HBCUs!? Olubowale Victor Akintimehin (born September 21, 1984), better known by his stage name Wale (/ˈwɔːleɪ/ WAW-lay), is an American ...more
Will Moss • 27,586 Views • March 27th, 2014
Rick Ross - Yep Another HBCU Alumnus

Rick Ross - Yep Another HBCU Alumnus

William Leonard Roberts II (born January 28, 1976), better known by his stage name Rick Ross, is an American rapper. Ross founded the record label Maybach Music Group. He was born in Coahoma County, M ...more
Reginald Culpepper • 27,253 Views • September 1st, 2010
Please Give Us a Like on Facebook!