by L.A. Warren
Jackson State University computer-engineering major Taha Merghani, a junior, has been awarded a one-year college scholarship totaling up to $25,000 and a summer internship as part of the Apple HBCU Scholars Program. This is his second distinguished honor since arriving at JSU. The Sudanese native is among an elite group of 30 students selected nationally to receive this award. Merghani credits JSU for having a major impact on his life by making college education a reality. The gifted student said, “JSU provided an academic scholarship and helped to produce amazing internship opportunities that I needed for my personal and professional growth.”
The Apple HBCU Scholars Program is part of the Apple and Thurgood Marshall College Fund Diversity Initiative. As part of the partnership, Apple announced in March 2015 that it was making a $40-million, multiyear commitment, the largest and most comprehensive corporate investment ever given exclusively for students and faculty of four-year HBCUs. Merghani also was honored with a 2015 summer internship at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Before coming to the U.S., Merghani was ranked No. 1 of 400,000 students who took the standard high school examinations in Sudan in 2011.
Merghani said he has long been fascinated by computers. “I chose to pursue a degree in computer engineering because I wanted to get in-depth knowledge of both hardware and software,” he said. “I have developed a passion for utilizing software to facilitate interaction between humans and computers through natural language.”
The scholars program selected the 30 students from 47 HBCUs. The scholarship includes up to $25,000 for the students’ senior year; a summer internship; participation in a year-round program to prepare for post-graduation careers; and an opportunity to serve as ambassadors on their campuses to build awareness about the Apple and TMCF Diversity Initiative. In addition, the scholarship includes an invitation to attend TMCF’s Annual Leadership Institute and participation in the Apple HBCU Immersion Experience at Apple’s corporate headquarters in Cupertino, Calif.