Andre McClain, a graphic design student, was selected as an AT&T Rising Future Maker. This inaugural class sponsored by AT&T champions 25 students from historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) for exemplifying service on campus and in their communities.
“Being selected as an AT&T Rising Future Maker has opened many opportunities for myself and also students of color like myself. To be able to sit and be celebrated in rooms with FAMU students, HBCU students and AT&T executives have been a dream come true,” McClain says.
The Jacksonville, Fla., native aspires to become a graphic designer for major corporations and believes that this program is the first step to achieving his dreams.
Each recipient receives a $5,000 scholarship, a 5G-enabled mobile phone with one year of AT&T service, and access to professional workshops with AT&T executives. “This scholarship really assisted me with paying for tuition and ensuring that I am economically stable. I previously had to use loans to cover my academic costs and now I have been relieved of that burden for the next few semesters,” McClain says.
Chazriq Clarke, a 2021 AT&T Rising Future Maker and a 2022 graduate of FAMU, says each year he is excited to see more Rattlers celebrated by AT&T.
“Seeing someone from FAMU, especially someone like Andre, is inspiring as an alum. We have blazed the trail for current students to follow and they are doing just that,” Clarke says.
AT&T Rising Future Makers are a collegiate extension of AT&T’s Dream In Black Future Makers program which aligns with AT&T’s mission of empowering diverse communities. Alongside McClain, FAMU students Zachary C. Bell, Makira Burns, Skylar Kennedy, and Amyia White were also selected for this year’s class.
