American Eagle Outfitters Inc. has awarded more than $1 million in scholarships to associate scholars to through the AEO Steven A. Davis Scholarship for Social Justice and has named its fourth cohort of recipients.
The company committed $5 million in 2020 to advance educational opportunities for AEO associates who are actively driving anti-racism, equality and social justice initiatives. To date, AEO’s over $1 million in scholarship funds have supported 64 associate scholars on their academic journeys, including 19 new recipients for 2024.
“Inspiring change and building a better world starts with investing in our people,” said Jay Schottenstein, executive chairman of the board and chief executive officer, AEO Inc. “I am very proud of the recipients of our Steven A. Davis Scholarship for Social Justice Program and the positive impact it has had on so many of our associates.”
“We are a company that has always been deeply committed to equity, access and belonging which is rooted in a belief that acceptance and education have the power to dismantle racism and discrimination in all forms. Our associate scholars are creating positive change in their local communities and we are honored to reward their pursuit to build a more inclusive and tolerant society through this unique scholarship opportunity that helps them achieve their dreams,” said Schottenstein.
The fourth cohort of AEO’s Steven A.Davis Scholarship for Social Justice recipients have demonstrated their commitment to advancing social justice and driving change in their community by supporting causes that focus on mental health advocacy, programming for LGBTQIA+ youth and inclusivity and equality for people of color. Each recipient will receive $10,000 per year for up to four years to help pay for tuition, housing and books related to their post-secondary education. AEO associates in the U.S., Canada and Mexico who were already enrolled, or were preparing to enroll, in a post-secondary education program were eligible to apply for the scholarship for the 2024-2025 school year.
This year’s scholarship recipients are: Camila Lemus, Enki White, Enrique Soto, Fatema Khojasta, Lauren Guday, Lia Laurita, Lillian Zervakis, Lorraine Angelakos, Luciana D’Orio, Lucy Rutter, Malachi Talbert, Maryyam Usman, Mikaylin Altston, Natasha Johnson, Paschaline Eze, Rylee Morris, Sarah Mekonnen, Shivgeet Sandhu, and Tabor DeFore.
In addition to receiving a scholarship, associates are given the opportunity to participate in an experiential program designed to help prepare scholars for the corporate workforce by offering an inside look at key areas of business, such as legal, finance, human resources, marketing, design, and merchandising. Scholarship recipients can also match with an AEO mentor who is available to offer career and personal development guidance as students navigate their undergraduate studies.
