UNCF 3-Day Panda Cares Scholarship Program Leadership Conference

In 2020, The Panda Cares Foundation extended their partnership with UNCF (United Negro College Fund) to develop the Panda Cares Scholars Program, this program provides renewable annual scholarships up to $3,500, $5,000 and $7,000 to college sophomores, juniors and seniors, respectively. Students in the program are educated on expense support, gain hands-on training in specified fields through shadowing and receive professional development opportunities intended to prepare them for early career success. This year’s leadership conference will take place March 15th-17th at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort in Orlando, FL.

The Panda Cares Scholars Leadership Institute is hosting an intense three-day conference culminating in leadership training. This conference was developed to help ensure that student scholars have all the tools needed to successfully launch their careers. The inaugural event, now back in person after the pandemic, will provide scholars the opportunity to engage the theories and virtual toolkits provided to them for the past two years in a practical environment. Scholars will convene at the conference and have the opportunity to do the following:

Meet and network with leaders in their desired field of interest.
Interview with hiring managers with open job opportunities.
Shadow professionals in a non-traditional work environment.
Participate in experiential learning experience.

“We have worked diligently with our Scholars for the past three years preparing them for this moment. This program was built with the ultimate goal of providing essential skills to students that would develop them into community focused leaders ready to start on day one in their careers accepting the challenge to lead projects and being an asset to their companies. Our scholars are from various backgrounds and majors including Engineering, Computer Science and Public Health, with a mission to lead through community service. UNCF and The Panda Cares Foundation are excited to finally meet the scholars in-person at the 2023 Leadership Scholars and aid them in their successful entrance into the workplace,” said Arnika D. Frazier-Jackson, Director, Student Professional Development Programs, UNCF.

“Our Panda Express team is extremely excited to see the scholars in action,” said Winnie Chan, Director of Panda Cares Foundation, “These scholars exemplify the leadership and hope for a generation of youth who are making a positive impact in their communities. Our goal through the Panda Cares Scholars Program is for them to thrive not only academically but have the support and real-world skills to succeed in life.”

The Panda Cares Scholars Program, funded by the Panda Cares Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Panda Express, is a unique scholarship and mentorship program for under-resourced students of color with unmet financial need to empower them to earn a college degree. The program has grown into multiple options for students seeking financial assistance. Powered by its global family of associates and guests, Panda supports students through their educational journey from elementary through college to thrive through leadership programs and academic achievement and success.

To learn more about the Panda Cares Scholars Program, go to UNCF.org/PandaCares.http://www.uncf.org/PandaCares

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Tags: Education, Happenings, Panda Cares, Panda Express, Scholarship, STEM, UNCF, United Negro College Fund

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Dr. Jerry Doby Editor-in-Chief of The Hype Magazine, Media and SEO Consultant, Journalist, Ph.D. and retired combat vet. 2023 recipient of The President's Lifetime Achievement Award. Partner at THM Media Group. Member of the U.S. Department of Arts and Culture, the United States Press Agency and ForbesBLK.