Awards $150,000 Issie L. Jenkins Full-Ride Scholarship to Texas Southern University Freshman Denver Hill

(Black PR Wire) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Zeta National Educational Foundation, Inc. (ZNEF) celebrated its 50th Anniversary Gala on September 4, with an evening of reflection, empowerment, and recognition at the National Museum of African American History and Culture. The event honored five decades of educational impact and featured Guest Host and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated member Jericka Duncan, CBS News National Correspondent and CBS Weekend News anchor, along with a special performance by Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Musiq Soulchild.

A highlight of the evening was the presentation of the $150,000 Issie L. Jenkins Full-Ride Scholarship to Denver Hill, an 18-year-old marketing major at Texas Southern University. Named for Attorney Issie L. Shelton Jenkins, the scholarship honors the visionary leader who served as ZNEF’s Foundation Counsel for 40 years and as Chair from 1995 to 2000. Jenkins’ pioneering leadership established the Foundation’s legal framework and expanded its national scholarship and education programs.

Hill, who plans to transform how Black artists are perceived, valued, and celebrated through innovative campaigns across music, fashion, and visual art, described the award as life-changing. “I feel like it’s opened the door of believing in myself more than I ever have before,” Hill said. “If you can do this, you can do anything.”

“Celebrating 50 years of ZNEF is not just about looking back—it’s about investing in the future,” said Valerie Hollingsworth Baker, Chair of the ZNEF board and Past International Centennial President of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated. “This gala highlighted the power of education to change lives, and Denver Hill’s journey reminds us why our mission matters. When we open doors for one student, we create ripples of opportunity that reach families, communities, and generations to come.”

This year’s milestone event also recognized a $250,000 contribution from Macy’s through The Divine Nine® Collection at Macy’s, an exclusive apparel collection inspired by the signature colors of historically Black sororities & fraternities. The collaboration between Macy’s, Kasper, ZNEF and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated. reflects a shared commitment to integrate fashion, sisterhood, and scholarship as a pathway to opportunity. Through this partnership, Macy’s reinforces its dedication to empower the leaders of tomorrow, helping ZNEF extend its reach to even more deserving students nationwide. 

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About the Zeta National Educational Foundation (ZNEF)

Founded in 1975, ZNEF is the philanthropic and educational arm of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated. The 501(c)(3) nonprofit provides scholarships, grants, and programs that support academic achievement and social impact. With more than $2.2 million awarded to-date to over 4,000 students, ZNEF has transformed thousands of lives, building a powerful legacy of opportunity, empowerment, and community investment in education.

For more information, visit www.znef.org

Photo Caption:

From left: Valerie Hollingsworth Baker, chair of the board of the Zeta National Educational Foundation (ZNEF) and centennial president of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated; Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Musiq Soulchild; ZNEF scholarship recipient Denver Hill; and Dr. Stacie N.C. Grant, international president of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, at ZNEF’s 50th anniversary gala at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C. Photo Credit: Richard A. Photography

Photo Caption:

From left: Valerie Hollingsworth Baker, chair of the board of the Zeta National Educational Foundation (ZNEF) and centennial president of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated; ZNEF scholarship recipient Denver Hill; attorney Issie L. Jenkins, namesake of the Issie L. Jenkins Full-Ride Scholarship; and CBS News national correspondent and CBS Weekend News anchor Jericka Duncan, a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc., who served as guest host. The photo was taken during ZNEF’s 50th anniversary gala at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C. Photo Credit: Richard A. Photography