ST LOUIS, MISSOURI (December 6, 2024) — Harris-Stowe State University (HSSU) is taking a bold step toward advancing STEM education with the launch of its STEM Capital Campaign. This transformative effort is being supported by a $500,000 gift from PENN Entertainment Inc (“PENN”), the operator of Hollywood Casino St Louis and River City Casino, properties located in the St Louis area. The generous contribution will fund the development of a state-of-the-art STEM building on campus and provide scholarships to students pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
“This gift represents a significant milestone for Harris-Stowe State University and our unwavering commitment to creating opportunities in STEM for under-represented students,” said Dr LaTonia Collins Smith, President of Harris-Stowe State University. “The new STEM facility and scholarship opportunities will enhance our ability to equip students with the tools they need to lead and innovate in an ever-evolving workforce. We are deeply grateful for the support of Hollywood Casino St Louis and PENN Entertainment as we embark on this transformative journey.”
The STEM Capital Campaign also aligns with the Greater St Louis Inc. 2030 Jobs Plan, which seeks to increase the number of minorities placed in quality jobs and strengthen employer commitments to buy, hire, and invest locally. With two of the St Louis Metro region’s industry strengths — Biomedical and Health Services, and Aerospace — directly related to STEM, Harris-Stowe’s campaign is positioned to make a significant impact.
In addition, the St Louis region is poised to excel in next-generation industries such as AgTech, Geospatial, and Fintech.
Producing a more diverse pipeline of STEM talent, as envisioned by HSSU’s STEM Capital Campaign, is critical to maintaining the region’s competitive edge in these sectors. By fostering innovation and empowering diverse STEM professionals, this campaign has the potential to influence the future economy of St Louis for decades to come.
“We are thrilled to expand our STEM-HBCU Scholarship program in partnership with Harris-Stowe and further support the St Louis community,” said Justin Carter, Senior Vice President of Regional Operations and Chair of PENN’s Diversity Council. “We established this STEM program to provide students at HBCUs with increased access to STEM opportunities and create hands-on learning experiences. We are honored to help support the launch of the University’s STEM Capital Campaign and look forward to working with Harris-Stowe to empower students and narrow the representation gap in STEM fields.”
“We are proud to support the excellent work Harris-Stowe and Dr LaTonia Collins Smith are doing to provide students with more opportunities to pursue education in STEM fields,” said Michael Jerlecki, General Manager for Hollywood Casino St Louis and River City Casino. “Giving back to our community is core to our business, and we are pleased to play a role in shaping the next generation of STEM leaders right here in St Louis.”
In 2021, PENN Entertainment announced a $4 Million initiative to fund STEM Scholarships at HBCU’s across the country to provide more opportunities for students and narrow the representation gap in STEM fields. To date, PENN has created scholarships at six esteemed institutions in addition to its gift to Harris-Stowe.
This partnership underscores the critical role of community collaboration in addressing societal challenges and promoting equity through education. With the launch of the STEM Capital Campaign, Harris-Stowe is poised to lead the charge in transforming opportunities for students, particularly those historically underrepresented in STEM fields, while advancing the broader economic goals of the St Louis region.
About Harris-Stowe State University
Harris-Stowe State University (HSSU), located in midtown St Louis, offers the most affordable bachelor’s degree in Missouri. HSSU is a fully accredited, four-year institution with more than sixty programs in education, business, arts, social sciences, humanities, and STEM fields. The university’s mission is to provide outstanding educational opportunities for individuals seeking a rich and engaging academic experience, fostering intellectual curiosity, and preparing students for leadership roles in a global society.
About PENN Entertainment
PENN Entertainment Inc, together with its subsidiaries (“PENN,” or the “Company”), is North America’s leading provider of integrated entertainment, sports content, and casino gaming experiences. PENN operates in 26 jurisdictions throughout North America, with a broadly-diversified portfolio of casinos, racetracks, and online sports-betting and iCasino offerings under well-recognized brands including Hollywood Casino®, L’Auberge®, ESPN BET™, and theScore BET Sportsbook and Casino®. PENN’s ability to leverage its partnership with ESPN, the “worldwide leader in sports,” and its ownership of theScore, the top digital sports-media brand in Canada, is central to the Company’s highly-differentiated strategy to expand its footprint and efficiently grow its customer ecosystem. PENN’s focus on organic cross-sell opportunities is reinforced by its market-leading retail casinos, sports media assets, and technology, including a proprietary state-of-the-art, fully-integrated digital sports and iCasino betting platform, and an in-house iCasino content studio (PENN Game Studios). The Company’s portfolio is further bolstered by its industry-leading PENN Play™ customer loyalty program, offering its 31 million members a unique set of rewards and experiences.
