Photo back row (left to right) Procter & Gamble brand manager Adam Weber; HSAN President/CEO Dr. Benjamin Chavis; HSAN Executive Director Valeisha Butterfield; Ne-Yo; Russell Simmons; Q; TAG Make History Grant winners Blair Alexander, Jr, and Paul Dickens and NAFEO President/ CEO Dr. Lezli Baskerville. front row (left to right) MC Lyte; Chili; Yo-Yo and TAG Make History Grant winner Kiera Thomas


In New York yesterday, TAG Records who recently joined forces with the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network (HSAN) to name five recipients of the first ever TAG Make History National Grants Program. With help from the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education (NAFEO) and a panel of celebrity judges including hip-hop stars Russell Simmons, Ne-Yo, Yo-Yo, Grammy-award winners MC Lyte and Chili and TAG Records first artist,Q, TAG Records honored individuals who have made their mark bettering society.

“The TAG Records mission is dedicated to mentoring and propelling urban youth through hip hop,” stated Adam Weber, brand manager for P&G. “The goal of TAG’s Make History National Grants Program is to recognize the extraordinary strides being taken by select urban students, and we’re very proud to partner with HSAN and NAFEO to provide them with tools to broaden their remarkable contributions.”

After a nationwide search scouring more than 100 college campuses, the chosen student winners each received a $10,000 grant for their exceptional progress in a cross-section of fields ranging from science to the arts.

The winners of the grant included: Blair Alexander Jr. (Morehouse College of Atlanta, Ga.):
For his groundbreaking research in microbiology pertaining to why humans have become resistant to antibiotics, and how to reverse this trend. Alexander will continue to make history as a premier researcher for antibiotics addressing diseases of African Americans and all races relating.

Paul Dickens (Howard University of Washington, D.C.):
First year medical student who has created health and environmental, youth-oriented programming using original hip-hop DVD’s to encourage young people to maintain healthy lives and promoting professions related to this lifestyle.

Chevonne James (Bowie State University of Bowie, Md.):
For her creation and operation of the “Pick A Meal” pilot Program, a program that enables the less fortunate to receive gift cards or “meal vouchers” and allows them to “pick-a-meal” at participating restaurants. This program also provides nutritional supplement bars, mini sanitary kits and bottled water to promote health and hygiene to the public.

Jamel Vanderburg (Wilberforce University of Wilberforce, Oh):
Vanderburg is the 21-year-old founder and CEO of start-up marketing and accounting firm, A & M Financial Services, Inc. This firm assists college students who want to start their own businesses to achieve their dreams, and also focuses on event planning and consulting.

Kiera Thomas (Kentucky State University of Frankfort, Ky.):
Thomas is an award-winning singer and songwriter. She has received this grant for her development and funding of the Kentucky State Show Choir, program committed to team spirit through the finest forms of contemporary vocal music and choreography.

The winners were handpicked from across the country and given grants in effort to support the continuation of their projects.

Thanks Jody and Pam of JLM PR, Inc for the exclusive!