Coppin State wins $10K donation for its track and field program

Plant-based beverage brand Silk, in partnership with track and field Hall of Famer Carl Lewis, announced Tuesday that Coppin State University as a winner of the Silk Team Protein Initiative, a $10,000 donation toward its track and field program to support student athletes on and off the field.

Coppin State University —along with Xavier University of Louisiana, Prairie View A&M University, Alabama State University and Southern University are the five recipients of the Silk Team Protein Initiative, totaling $50,000 in donations.

Historically, HBCUs and their attendees do not receive the same level of funding compared to other universities, so Silk Soymilk teamed up with Olympic gold medalist Lewis to close this gap. This summer, HBCU fans, students, faculty, and alumni were able to nominate their favorite HBCU for the chance to be a Silk Team Protein Initiative donation recipient.

In addition to the donations, which the winning HBCUs can put toward necessities such as uniforms, equipment and transportation, each university enjoyed a live Q&A with Carl Lewis, where he provided advice and inspiration to the track and field teams ahead of their next season. Plus, the athletes received plenty of Silk products including Soymilk.