NEW YORK, May 26, 2021 / PRNewswire / – Today, the Foot Locker Foundation announced its 2020-2021 class of varsity athletes, which includes twenty outstanding high school students from across the country. Each winner embodies academic excellence and strong skills in sport and within their communities. and is ready to receive a $ 20,000 scholarship for the school of their choice.

The availability of scholarship programs can make a real difference in the affordability of college education, especially for diverse students from low-income communities. Each year, the Foot Locker Foundation and Foot Locker, Inc. commit to its goal of supporting inclusiveness and diversity within the community.

“We know that quality education offers significant opportunities and breaks down barriers for young people today,” said Richard johnson, President and CEO of Foot Locker, Inc. “No young person should be forced to sacrifice their education for the sake of cost. Our goal is to provide financial support to these exceptional people and help them alleviate that burden so that they can “They can focus… on what matters – their academic work and personal growth. I am incredibly proud of this year’s award winners who have overcome so much, while working tirelessly in their communities to drive meaningful change.”

Last June, the Foot Locker Foundation through Foot Locker, Inc. pledged to increase scholarship funding by 50% over the next five years for blacks, natives and people of color (BIPOC). This community investment is fueled by the organization Leading Education and Economic Development (LEED)Initiative, a $ 200 million engagement focused on education and economic development within the black community. To date, 64% of Foot Locker Fellows come from a diverse background and / or community.

The Foot Locker Foundation, Inc. is deeply committed to funding academic success in many ways. In addition to investing in the future of university athletes, since 2011, the Foundation has awarded more than $ 600,000 in scholarships to internal associates through its Foot Locker Associate (FLAS) scholarship program.

This year, thanks to the LEED initiative, the organization has expanded its internal scholarship program. Over the next five years, the Foundation will add 50 scholarships dedicated to members of the black team. a $ 250,000 investment. Today, the Foundation also announced that all 30 team members are receiving scholarships.

To honor their achievements, the Foot Locker Foundation Ambassador and Social Influencer, Christian crosby, has practically caught up with some of this year’s varsity athletes, giving them the opportunity to talk about their struggles and successes of the past year. NBA forward, Robert covington also joined the celebratory conversations by hosting Group Zoom sessions hosted by the Foundation to congratulate them firsthand – Covington also offered additional words of support in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month.

“Despite the challenges of the past year, these seniors have shown remarkable dedication to their academic and athletic careers and the progress they have made in creating change in their communities is extraordinary,” said the Portland Trail Blazers Forward. “On behalf of myself and the Foot Locker Foundation, we are honored to support these student athletes as they move on to their next chapter.”

This year’s celebrations come at a time when many students have overcome obstacles due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the continuing rise in the cost of a university education. The Foot Locker Foundation proudly supports the Foot Locker Fellowship Program and its efforts to invest in accessible colleges for the next generation of leaders and athletes.

In alphabetical order, this year’s Exemplary Foot Locker Scholar athletes include:

Alana Fields (Louisville, KY), Ally conyers (Columbia, South Carolina), Amelia marcum (Denver, CO), Benjamin Cervantez (San Francisco, California), Ellaney Matarese (La Cañada Flintridge, California), Ethan Horvath (Granger, IN), Hayden tucker tyree (University of Lincoln, PA), Hussein Amuri (Winooksi, VT), Jocelyn mccullough (Falls Church, Virginia), Jordan bryant (Miami, Florida), Julia rhee (Atlanta, Georgia), Â Karson Baldwin (Strongsville, OH), Kayla austin (Bolingbrook, IL), Lucien Gandarias (Clinton, WA), Salami Malik (Houston, TX), Â Matthew Tengtrakool (Burlington, MA), Molly Cantillon (Livington, NJ), Naima blanco-norberg (San Francisco, California), Siboniso (Sihle) Mthethwa (Orange, VA) and Taylor smith (Smyrna, Georgia).

To learn more, visit: https://footlockerscholarathletes.com/

About the Foot Locker Foundation:
Founded in 2001, The Foot Locker Foundation is the charitable arm of Foot Locker, Inc., which celebrates sneaker and youth culture around the world through a portfolio of brands including Foot Locker, Kids Foot Locker, Champs Sports, Eastbay, Footaction, and Sidestep. With around 3,000 retail stores in 27 countries across North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand as well as websites and mobile apps, the company’s goal is to inspire and empower the culture of young people around the world, fueling a shared passion for self-expression and creating unparalleled experiences at heart of the global sneaker community. is headquartered in New York. For more information, please visit https://www.footlocker-inc.com.

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SOURCE Foot Locker, Inc.