August 27, 2024 – ATLANTA, GA– The Atlanta Falcons and Wells Fargo are excited to announce the expansion of the HBCU Fellowship Program – now in its second year. This paid eight-week initiative continues to provide valuable skills, career development and networking opportunities for students from Atlanta-based Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
Following a successful inaugural year, the program has expanded to include 15 Fellows, up from 12, and now encompasses a broader range of departments within AMB Sports and Entertainment (AMBSE). New areas such as player engagement, live events and entertainment, stadium production, graphic design, brand communications, internal communications and employer branding, and corporate partnerships have been added, due to increased interest. Participants will gain hands-on experience with the Atlanta Falcons and at the award-winning Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Additionally, the program includes mentorship from executives and associates at both AMBSE and Wells Fargo.
"The Atlanta Falcons and Wells Fargo are committed to creating opportunities for HBCU students by sharing insider access to the diverse careers within sports and entertainment," said Latonda Henderson, Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer, AMBSE. "Our first cohort was exceptional, and we are thrilled to expand this program and provide these talented students with hands-on exposure and in-demand skills."
"Wells Fargo is The Bank of Doing and we are working to level the playing field by connecting HBCU students in Atlanta with their career goals and with financial education resources to prepare them for life after graduation," said Tai Roberson, Senior Vice President, Philanthropy, Community Impact at Wells Fargo. "We are so proud to partner with the Falcons on this first-of-its-kind program that offers HBCU students from the top universities across Atlanta the chance to immerse themselves in the front office of a professional sports team and to experience how sponsors align with teams to drive positive change in communities."
Running from September through November 2024, the program will coincide with the Atlanta Falcons' season, offering students the opportunity to engage in scheduled activities and events.
This year's class – along with their Fellowship departments, universities, hometowns, and majors – includes:
- Brand Marketing: Cayla Morgan, Spelman College / Northern Virginia (Sociology and Anthropology)
- Brand Communications: Rece Allen, Morehouse College / Upper Marlboro, MD (Journalism)
- Community Engagement in the Home Depot Backyard: Rhamsei Phillips, Spelman College / Atlanta, GA (Psychology)
- Community Relations: Bria Evans, Spelman College / Kansas City, MO (Psychology)
- Content Production: Lauren Thompson, Spelman College / Washington DC metro area (Documentary Filmmaking, Art and Visual Culture)
- Corporate Partnerships: Anthony George II, Morehouse College / Dallas, TX by way of Bentonville, AR (Business Administration)
- Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: Jayla McNeil, Clark Atlanta University / Gwinnett County, GA (Marketing)
- Graphic Design: Avery Butler, Spelman College / Baltimore, MD (Psychology)
- Internal Communications and Employer Branding: Alyshea Furman, Spelman College / Upstate New York (English)
- Live Events and Entertainment: Amari Currie, Clark Atlanta University / Atlanta, GA (Supply Chain Management); Ashton Brown, Morehouse College / Irvine, CA (Psychology)
- Player Engagement: Cedric Spain, Morehouse College / Augusta, GA (Psychology)
- Sports Technology: Morgan Jackson, Spelman College / Marietta, GA (Computer Science)
- Stadium Production: Sydney Dixon, Spelman College / Houston, TX (Interactive Media); LeManuel Donaldson, Clark Atlanta University / Seattle, WA (Mass Media Arts)
To learn more about the program, visit the HBCU Fellows Program presented by Wells Fargo page on AtlantaFalcons.com.
About Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football club and member of the National Football League (NFL). The team's headquarters and practice facility are located on a 50-acre site in Flowery Branch, Georgia. The Falcons' NFL expansion franchise was awarded in 1965 and acquired by current owner Arthur M. Blank in 2002. Under Blank's leadership, the Falcons have become one of the League's premier teams on and off the field, playing their home games at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. For more information, visit www.atlantafalcons.com, and follow @AtlantaFalcons.
About Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a leading financial services company that has approximately $1.9 trillion in assets. We provide a diversified set of banking, investment and mortgage products and services, as well as consumer and commercial finance, through our four reportable operating segments: Consumer Banking and Lending, Commercial Banking, Corporate and Investment Banking, and Wealth & Investment Management. Wells Fargo ranked No. 34 on Fortune's 2024 rankings of America's largest corporations. In the communities we serve, the company focuses its social impact on building a sustainable, inclusive future for all by supporting housing affordability, small business growth, financial health, and a low-carbon economy. News, insights, and perspectives from Wells Fargo are also available at Wells Fargo Stories.
Additional information may be found at www.wellsfargo.com
