The University of Southern California in Los Angeles received a donation of $10 million from the George Lucas Family Foundation. The money will be used for programs to recruit students to the university’s School of Cinematic Arts from groups that are underrepresented in the entertainment industry. Specifically, the George Lucas Foundation Endowed Student Support Fund will provide scholarships for students with preferences given to African American and Hispanic students. The donation is the largest single donation for student support programs in university history.
George Lucas, the filmmaker known best for this Star Wars and Indiana Jones movies, stated that “Hispanic and African-American storytellers are underrepresented in the entertainment industry. It is my privilege to provide this assistance to qualified students who want to contribute their unique experience and talent to telling their stories.”
C.L. Max Nikias, president of the University of Southern California, added that “this gift will nurture the next generation of artists, supporting scholarships that enhance access in the cinematic arts, while bringing new and diverse voices and stories into our lives.”
