53 Black Scholars to Be Honored at Annual Celebration Featuring Keynote Ta-Nehisi Coates — A Testament to Resilience, Not Retreat

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., — Today, the Sachs Foundation has announced the selection of 53 outstanding Black scholars who will receive more than $1.9 million in scholarships. The students will be honored at the Foundation’s Annual Celebration this spring at Colorado College, featuring keynote remarks from renowned author and activist Ta-Nehisi Coates. Sachs Foundation Board Member Aisha Praught-Leer, a two-time Olympian and Jamaican record holder, will also speak in celebration of the students’ achievements.

At a time when diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs and race-conscious admissions face mounting legal and political challenges nationwide, the Sachs Foundation continues to stand firm in its 94-year legacy of investing in Black students across Colorado with scholarships, mentorship and leadership development opportunities.

“This moment belongs to our scholars. Their brilliance, their ambition and their future,” said Ben Ralston, CEO of Sachs Foundation. “In a moment where many institutions are retreating from their commitments to equity, we’re proud to stay firm in ours. The work we do is not just about scholarships – it’s about ensuring access, opportunity and belonging for Black students who are too often excluded. We are overjoyed to invest in such an exceptional group of scholars and can’t wait to see everything they accomplish.”

Founded in 1931 by Pikes Peak resident Henry Sachs, the Sachs Foundation has awarded more than $44.6 million in scholarships to over 3,300 students, alongside millions more over the years in broader community, youth, educator and health programs. The Foundation’s flagship undergraduate and graduate scholarships are awarded based on a combination of academic achievement, financial need and character. Beyond financial aid, Sachs Foundation offers a range of wraparound programming for Black Coloradans, including mentorship for students in grades 8-12, youth college and career development and educator-focused initiatives.

The 2025 Annual Celebration will recognize the achievements, leadership and higher ed journeys of this year’s scholarship recipients. With reflections from Coates on education, legacy and liberation, the event will underscore what the Sachs Foundation has always believed: investing in racial equity in education is investing in the future.

Black Colorado residents can apply for scholarships each year from January 1 to March 15. Learn more at SachsFoundation.org/scholarships.

Those interested in supporting the Foundation’s mission can visit SachsFoundation.org/donate/ or contact sachs@nextpr.com for information on partnership and giving opportunities.

About the Sachs Foundation 
Founded by Pikes Peak resident Henry Sachs in 1931, the Sachs Foundation provides programming designed to help Black Coloradans overcome systemic inequity. Over the decades, the Foundation has helped thousands of talented Black students pursue undergraduate and graduate degrees at universities throughout the United States, supported Black youth through mentoring programs and developed educator recruitment and retention programs to place more Black educators in Colorado classrooms. Learn more about the Sachs Foundation, student success stories and how to apply for scholarship grants at SachsFoundation.org.