WASHINGTON D.C. - U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) announced today that $500,000 was awarded to Wilberforce University to strengthen academic resources and physical plants. These funds, distributed by the U.S Department of Education's Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Program, will also empower Wilberforce to provide financial assistance.

"Wilberforce University is one of Ohio's great institutions of higher learning and these funds will help keep one of Ohio's two HBCUs competitive," said Brown. "These funds will help Wilberforce contribute to our goal of bringing 21st-century jobs to the Ohio valley."

Established almost a decade before the end of slavery, Wilberforce University is the first private university to be owned and operated by African Americans.

In April of 2008, Sen. Brown launched this first-of-its-kind forum for Ohio college and university presidents to facilitate discussions concerning common goals, needs, and opportunities in higher education. Building on the success of the first conference, in April 2010, Brown hosted his third annual college and university presidents' conference in Washington, D.C. with nearly 50 presidents in attendance - including Wilberforce University President Patricia Hardaway.

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