The University of North Florida announced March 10 that CSX Transportation Inc. made a $700,000 gift to endow a scholarship in the Coggin College of Business Diversity in Business program.
“CSX is pleased to partner with UNF and the Coggin College of Business to further progress workplace diversity,” CSX CEO James Foote said in a news release.
“We are equally proud to create the Mark K. Wallace CSX Transportation & Logistics Endowed Scholarship to honor Mark’s legacy by helping support the advancement of students in the transportation and logistics program.”
The scholarship, named in honor of the CSX executive who died last year, will be awarded to need-based students.
The Diversity in Business program was created to increase opportunities among students from diverse groups through exposure to professional development opportunities, networking and identifying career advancement opportunities, according to the release.
“UNF is extremely appreciative of CSX’s continued commitment during the 50th anniversary of UNF and the Coggin College of Business,” Richard Buttimer, dean of the Coggin College of Business, said in the release.
“The DIB program will help recruit more underrepresented students into the college, and support and assist as they matriculate and graduate with increased exposure to career opportunities.”
The program’s goals include doubling the proportion of students from diverse backgrounds at Coggin, increasing African American enrollment to 10% in the next five years, having 500 students join and complete the program in five years and increasing the majors and fields which historically have had underrepresentation from diverse groups.
UNF’s Coggin College of Business was named among the Best Business Schools for 2022 by The Princeton Review.