Clark Atlanta University announced Thursday a $2 million scholarship and a gift of more than 114 rare books valued at approximately $127,000.

The Charles S. Ackerman Memorial Scholarship will cover tuition for full-time undergraduate students of Clark Atlanta University who are citizens or permanent U.S. residents, the university said in a news release. Ten sophomores will be selected into the Ackerman Scholarship Program each academic year, beginning this fall semester. There will be additional groups of 10 sophomores selected during the 2019-20 and 2020-21 academic years.

Students must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.2 or higher and meet other criteria.

Supporters of historically black colleges and universities like Clark Atlanta have raised concerns that they do not get as many multi-million dollar donations for scholarships in comparison to predominately white institutions.

Ackerman, who died in September, was a member of the first class of the university's Board of Trustees following its 1988 consolidation of Clark College and Atlanta University. He chaired the university's Building and Grounds committee for 30 years.

About the Author

Featured

A new poll from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution explored what Georgians thought about the first 100 days in office of President Donald Trump’s second term. Photo illustration by Philip Robibero/AJC

Credit: Philip Robibero/AJC