Published: May 17, 2017
Contact: Michael Tullier, APR
Office of Communications, Public Relations and Marketing
If spring is the season for cleaning, then the summer — at least at Tuskegee University — is a time for remodeling, thanks to a $40,000 grant from The Home Depot’s “Retool Your School” competition.
The university received the “Retool Your School” grant during a live-streamed event hosted by The Home Depot at its corporate headquarters in Atlanta on May 10. The annual competition, established in 2010, supports sustainable campus improvements at the nation’s historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). Tuskegee University will use the funds as part of its “Adopt-a-Dorm” program to renovate bathrooms in Russell and Adams halls. Bathrooms in the male and female dorms will receive eco-friendly restroom, shower and lighting fixtures, in addition to new tile.
“A superior educational experience requires the best learning and living spaces possible,” said Dr. Brian Johnson, president of Tuskegee University. “Ongoing corporate partnerships such as this one with The Home Depot help maintain the tradition for which our beautiful campus is known while continuing the trajectory of success our student body represents.”
Leaders of the Tuskegee National Alumni Association worked with student leaders to identify remodeling priorities that would have the greatest impact on Tuskegee’s students.
“Our alumni’s support of this campaign and their charitable giving continue to make the Tuskegee University campus a home for our students,” said Burt Rowe, the alumni association’s president. “We look forward to their continued support as we ready the campus and its facilities for the upcoming academic year.”
Tuskegee University advanced to the final round of the competition following a social media engagement campaign where students, alumni and university friends voted online daily and shared the #Tuskegee_RYS17 hashtag. During the final round, a panel of judges considered the quality of each school’s proposal; the school’s ability to execute the project within the specified budget; and project’s lasting, positive impact on the HBCU campus.
In 2016, Tuskegee University received a $30,000 grant from the “Retool Your School” program. For more information about the program, visit www.retoolyourschool.com. To make an online gift to benefit Tuskegee University, visit www.tuskegee.edu/give, or contact the Office of Advancement and Development at 334.727.8340 or contributions@mytu.tuskegee.edu.
© 2017 Tuskegee University