Clark Atlanta University alumni, Kenya and Rainbow Barris, have pledged to donate a $1 million scholarship that will fund current students at their alma mater.
The Kenya and Rainbow Barris Annual Scholarship Award will see half of the money go to students pursuing majors in mass-media arts and the remaining half will go to students majoring in biology.
The power couple graduated from Clark Atlanta in 1996 and have both went on to enjoy storied careers in their respective fields. Kenya, who received a degree in mass media arts, has enjoyed tremendous success as the creator and writer for his hit show, ‘Black-ish,’ which is loosely based on the life of his family. Rainbow, who graduated with a biology degree, is portrayed by Tracee Ellis-Ross on the show and released her first novel last month, which focuses on the juggling act of working as both an anesthesiologist and a mother of six.
Kenya served as the commencement speaker and received an honorary doctorate from the school at Clark Atlanta’s graduation last week. The school commended the couple for their contribution in the statement below:
“Mr. Barris has lifted his powerful voice in the entertainment industry to explore issues of classism and racism in creative and humorous ways,” said Dr. Ronald A. Johnson, president of Clark Atlanta University. “In giving back to their alma mater, he has again used his powerful voice to articulate the importance of supporting this beloved institution that is giving our students the skills and confidence to find and lift their own voices in the field of their choice.”
Rainbow Barris, who is also a 1996 graduate of CAU with a degree in biology, is a board-certified anesthesiologist and has worked for a major hospital group in Los Angeles for the past six years. She has recently decided to devote herself fulltime to raising the couple’s six children.”
