Charlotte, N.C./Feb. 26, 2024 – Johnson C. Smith University has been the recipient of more than $100,000 in Home Depot Retool Your School grant funds.
The Division of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management is looking to continue its winning streak by placing in the top five once again during this year’s Retool Your School contest.
The contest begins Monday, Feb. 26 and is expected to support 30 campuses with grants ranging from $40,000 to $150,000 per school. This is the 15th year that the Home Depot has offered the contest to HBCUs to offer much-needed financial support to often underfunded colleges and universities.
"Over the past 15 years, I’ve personally witnessed the long-term impact of this program,” said Arlette Guthrie, senior vice president of human resources at The Home Depot. “Retool Your School reflects The Home Depot’s core values and commitment to supporting the communities we serve, and I can’t wait to see what’s in store for the next 15 years.”
The JCSU community has rallied together for the past two years to garner votes. JCSU students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members can help JCSU take its place among the winners in its division by voting nonstop at RetoolYourSchool.com/vote until the contest ends on March 24, 2024.
“Each year, everyone comes together to vote for our community, which provides us with a sense of unity and family,” said Anthony Brown, director of Student Leadership and Engagement.
“It’s important for our students, faculty, staff, alumni and community to support JCSU because our level of commitment to the program and collective voting shows that we are better together,” said Dr. Davida Haywood, vice president of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management. “I am always impressed once the competition is over how many folks comment on social media that they love JCSU and our efforts to ensure that our physical spaces are appropriate and welcoming for years to come!”
In 2022, JCSU won the fourth-place prize of $30,000, which was used to upgrade Greenfield Gardens, a space outside of Greenfield Hall where students can relax, enjoy each other’s company and do their school work.
During Homecoming Week in 2023, Brown and Student Government Association President Sydlie Fleurimond ’24 cut the ribbon on the newly renovated student lounge in Mary Joyce Taylor Student Union known as the Bull Pen. Student Affairs and Enrollment Management, with the help of the Department of Facilities, made several renovations over the summer, which made it possible to unveil the space in the fall. The new Bull Pen offers students a vibrant area to gather, do homework, eat meals, play games and attend student events.
Brown says several ideas, including a gazebo area, have already been discussed. He explained that the grant doesn’t come in the form of money but in the form of supplies, products and materials from Home Depot that can be used to create or transform spaces on campus.
This year, the voting is slightly different. In the past, Home Depot counted retweets and social media mentions as votes. This year, however, the home improvement company will only count votes that are made via the voting link.
Brown encourages students to get involved by voting for JCSU in the contest.
“Retool your school is about leaving a legacy on our college campus through this campus improvement grant,” he said. “What better way to be a part of something that will be created for our campus that will leave a lasting mark?”
Anyone looking to support JCSU can vote as many times as they like between now and March 24, 2024, to help JCSU secure additional funding that will help make a difference on campus. Visit RetoolYourSchool.com/vote and be sure to vote for JCSU in cluster 3.
Be on the lookout for more information about potential events that will help rally the community together in unified voting. For more information, email abrown@jcsu.edu.
