Benedict College has received a $100,000 grant from The Boulé Foundation to support the newly established The B.E.S.T. Leadership Institute, a transformational program designed to strengthen academic achievement, leadership development, career readiness, and graduation outcomes for Black male students.
The Boulé Foundation was a major supporter of Dr. Artis and Benedict College in this important initiative. The B.E.S.T. Leadership Institute reflects the very principles upon which Sigma Pi Phi and The Boule Foundation were founded: leadership, scholarship, achievement, and service. (L-R) Archon Khan Nedd, Board Chair, W.K. Kellogg Foundation; Archon Tyrone Adam Burroughs – Board Vice Chair, Benedict College; Archousa Roslyn Clark Artis – President and CEO, Benedict College; Grand Sire Archon Jesse L. Tyson – Trustee, Benedict College and Lane College; Ms. La June Montgomery Tabron, President and CEO of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation; Archon Ronald Johnson – former President, Clark Atlanta University; Archon Jim Stuckey, Trustee, Benedict College; and Archon I.S. Leevy Johnson – General Counsel, Benedict College.
The investment comes at a significant moment in the College’s history. Benedict College now enrolls more male than female undergraduate students, making it one of the few historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) to reach this demographic milestone. The initiative reflects the College’s commitment to ensuring those students not only enroll but thrive, graduate, and become leaders in their professions and communities.
The B.E.S.T. Leadership Institute is a comprehensive student-success cohort model that provides coordinated mentoring, academic advising, financial barrier intervention, leadership development, financial literacy, and career preparation. Grounded in Belonging, Educational Excellence, Service and Civic Responsibility, and Thoughtfulness Toward Others and the Campus, the B.E.S.T. Leadership Institute intentionally connects students with faculty, staff, alumni, business leaders, and professional mentors who will guide them throughout their collegiate journey.
The Institute will engage all incoming male students in Benedict College’s entering class. Structured support will continue through the freshman and sophomore years, with students progressing from B.E.S.T. Candidates to B.E.S.T. Scholars and later serving as B.E.S.T. Leaders and B.E.S.T. Mentors during the junior and senior years. The pathway culminates in recognition as B.E.S.T. Men at graduation.
“This investment represents far more than financial support. It is an investment in leadership, excellence, and the limitless potential of young Black men,” said Dr. Roslyn Clark Artis, President and CEO of Benedict College. “At Benedict College, we are proud that Black men now represent the majority of our undergraduate student population. That distinction carries with it both opportunity and responsibility. Through the B.E.S.T. Leadership Institute, we are building an intentional ecosystem that equips these young men to excel academically, lead courageously, graduate confidently, and transform their communities. We are deeply grateful to The Boulé Foundation and the members of Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity for believing in this vision.”
The B.E.S.T. Leadership Institute is designed to address the academic, financial, and social barriers that often impact persistence and graduation. Participants will receive individualized academic success plans, proactive progress monitoring, early academic interventions, financial aid navigation, leadership training, and structured career preparation, including résumé development, LinkedIn profile creation, interview coaching, internship opportunities, and networking with corporate and community leaders.
At its core, the initiative is designed to create a brotherhood rooted in discipline, accountability, service, and excellence while preparing students to become mentors and leaders for future generations.
The grant also strengthens Benedict College’s strategic partnership with Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, whose longstanding commitment to educational advancement, leadership, and community service closely aligns with the initiative’s goals. Members of the fraternity will serve as mentors, advisors, guest lecturers, and professional connectors, helping students build meaningful relationships and access career opportunities.
The Boulé Foundation was a major supporter of Dr. Artis and Benedict College in this important initiative. “The B.E.S.T. Leadership Institute reflects the very principles upon which Sigma Pi Phi and The Boule Foundation were founded: leadership, scholarship, achievement, and service. By investing in these young men today, we are helping develop future leaders who will strengthen their families, professions, and communities for generations to come,” said Jesse Tyson, Grand Sire Archon.
“The B.E.S.T. Leadership Institute is about more than helping students earn a degree. It is about intentionally developing young men who are prepared to lead and strengthen their families and communities. I am grateful to The Boulé Foundation and my fellow Archons of the Alpha Iota Member Boulé for investing their time, wisdom, and experience in Benedict’s students,” said J.R. Green, Ph.D., Educational Consultant and Archon.
Unlike a short-term program, the B.E.S.T. Leadership Institute is designed as a permanent institutional commitment. Beginning in its third year, the initiative is expected to become a dedicated line item in Benedict College’s operating budget and will be supported by collaborative leadership from Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, Financial Aid, Career Development, Alumni Relations, and Institutional Advancement.
A defining feature of the initiative is its sustainability model. Every graduate will be encouraged to return as a mentor, guest speaker, career connector, and future donor, creating a cycle of mentorship and generational impact that reflects the enduring values of brotherhood and service.