Microsoft executive's $1 million endowment links North Carolina and Virgin Islands: 'I could only dream of this when I was in high school'

In 1998, Rashida Hodge came to Raleigh, North Carolina, with a dare to dream beyond the St Thomas Island where she grew up. The path she took via North Carolina State University led her to Microsoft today.

But she did not forget her humble beginning in the Virgin Islands, a US territory. And now she decided to link her home with North Carolina State through a $1 million endowment with the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands. This will send one to two students from Virgin Islands to NC State each year with all costs paid -- something that Rashida could only dream of when she was in high school. She had to cobble together scholarships to study in North Carolina but her endowment includes all -- full tuition, fees, housing and mentorship for up to four years."Scholarships changed the trajectory of my life," said Hodge. "I came to NC State because others invested in me, and I graduated debt-free because people I had never met believed in my future. Growing up, my parents taught me that if you believe in something, you have to be willing to make a sacrifice. This scholarship is my way of paying that gift forward and creating the same opportunity for the next generation of Virgin Islands students," the Microsoft executive said.

“I want one student to become two students, and two students to become ten students, and ten students to become a tradition,” Hodge told The News & Observer. “I actually want this to be one of the most prestigious scholarships and NC State, and open up a bridge for the next generation of Virgin Islanders.”Hodge said one does not need extraordinary wealth to participate in philanthropy.The Microsoft techie said the dream is more valuable than the money.

Kids in the Virgin Islands should not feel that they can't dream because they live in a 32 square miles of an island. “The lesson isn’t that I’m special,” Hodge said. “The lesson is that possibility is much closer than we think.”

The first recipient of the scholarship is...

Adaina Smith of St Croix has been selected as the first recipient of the Rashida A. Hodge Scholarship. "I am deeply grateful for the Rashida Hodge Scholarship and mentorship opportunity," said Smith.

"It gives me the chance to attend NC State and fully dedicate myself to my education without placing financial strain on my family. This opportunity motivates me to grow into a leader who not only succeeds, but also gives back and opens doors for others.

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Who is Rashida Hodge?

Rashida Hodge is the corporate vice president, Azure Data and AI Customer Success at Microsoft, accelerating data-driven transformation for customers. Prior to Microsoft, Rashida was Global Vice President at IBM, with more than 20 years of experience as a sales and services enterprise leader spanning leadership roles in hardware, software and services technologies.Rashida earned a BS and MS in Industrial Engineering at North Carolina State University and an MBA from Duke University Fuqua School of Business.Rashida is also a board member of Sonatype, A Vista Equity Portfolio Company, North Carolina State University Board of Visitors, Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands and Girls, Inc.