It was during a nap born of exhaustion and self-doubt that the call came. Nevaeh Green, a high-achieving engineering student at FAMU, had been wrestling with a familiar foe: imposter syndrome. She’d fallen asleep questioning her place in a demanding field, only to wake to a voicemail that would change her trajectory.
The unknown number belonged to Noel Walker, a program director with the Thurgood Marshall College Fund who called to inform Ms. Green that she had been selected for the seventh cohort of the highly competitive Boeing | Thurgood Marshall College Fund Scholars Program.
“It felt unreal,” Green recalled, “and, honestly, quite ironic considering the conversation I had with myself only two hours prior. It pulled me out of my slump and was a strong reminder of my appreciated excellence despite quiet moments where I somehow forget myself.”
She is now one of a select group of students selected from Boeing’s HBCU partner schools to receive the award, which provides significant scholarship funding, specialized mentorship, and direct pathways to professional development within the aerospace giant.
The honor recognizes not just her academic excellence, but also leadership and a demonstrated potential to impact the future of technology. For Green, a student at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, the nation’s only joint engineering school between two universities, the selection is a validation of her practical experience, including work at Sandia National Laboratories.
She believes her current research under Tarik Dickens was particularly distinguishing. The initiative, funded by Boeing itself, involves creating a digital twin of an aircraft wing structure—a virtual model used to test materials and support digital pilot training.
“I practiced extremely hard to ace that part,” she said of the rigorous application and interview process.
FAMU has long standing relationship with Boeing and has been a pipeline for talent into the aerospace and defense industries through partnerships like this.
“Our ambition is to push beyond existing boundaries, attracting the best and brightest students and faculty to our fold,” said Suvranu De,Ph.D, dean of the college. “The industry has been taking notice of our graduates and our burgeoning partnerships... Our graduates are not just leaders in engineering, but they also play a pivotal role in shaping the future of our society.”
Green's Boeing | TMCF Scholar Program provides her with need-based funding totaling up to $30,000—distributed as $10,000 after each of two paid summer internships, housing assistance, and a final $10,000 upon accepting a full-time job offer from Boeing after graduation. Scholars also engage in career development workshops, receive ongoing mentorship, and serve as program ambassadors on campus.
For Green, the program is more than a scholarship; it is an entry into Boeing’s world of “Digital & Systems Engineering,” offering a crucial bridge from academic theory to industry-scale innovation. It is also a personal triumph over the quiet doubts that so often shadow high achievement.
As she prepares to join a network of scholars poised to redefine the future of flight, her journey stands as a testament to the power of opportunity meeting preparation — and a timely reminder that sometimes, the most important calls come when we least expect them.