SNIPES USA, the leading footwear retailer connecting streetwear culture with community and creativity, has launched a series of campus activations at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
Through its Pay It Forward initiative, launched in 2022, SNIPES has funded HBCU scholarships and campus programs at Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, Spelman College, Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, Morgan State University, Central State University, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (N.C. A&T), Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU), Norfolk State University, and Hampton University, according to a news release shared with AFROTECH™.
The initiative is rooted in SNIPES’ HBCU strategy, built on three core pillars: cultural celebration and connection, educational empowerment, and sustainable community integration.
“Our work with HBCUs goes far beyond a campaign — it’s a commitment,” SNIPES USA Chief Marketing Officer Kelley Walton said in a statement.
“As an HBCU graduate myself, I understand the transformative power these institutions hold and the unique way they nurture excellence, innovation, and community,” Walton continued.
This year, SNIPES partnered with Culture Creators Agency to expand its impact through the Campus Changemakers Program, enhancing student engagement at Morehouse, Spelman, and Hampton.
Designed to bridge streetwear culture and student empowerment, the partnership gives HBCU students hands-on experience as campus ambassadors — training them to lead, produce, and activate real brand events. It also offers mentorship, micro-grants, and career pathways that connect classroom learning with professional opportunities, the news release states.
A Legacy Of Investment
Through scholarships, mentorship, and career programs at schools including Morgan State, Central State, and N.C. A&T — in partnership with Values Partnerships, America’s largest Black-founded social impact agency — SNIPES invests directly in student success.
The brand builds sustainable community programs that blend marketing, merchandise, and engagement to ensure long-term impact in Black communities. SNIPES also celebrates HBCU heritage and amplifies student stories through exclusive creative experiences — from homecoming concerts and step shows to tailgate activations and business school takeovers.
SNIPES has also launched a Pro Standard merchandise collection, featuring apparel celebrating Clark Atlanta, Morehouse, FAMU, Southern University, Howard, Hampton, Norfolk State, Cheyney, and Lincoln University, notes the release. The line includes satin jackets, hoodies, and t-shirts, with some proceeds benefiting scholarships at SNIPES partner schools.
“These efforts are deeply personal to me because I’ve lived the HBCU experience and witnessed how the right support at the right time can change a student’s trajectory,” said Walton.
“Through Pay It Forward, we’re honored to invest in the next generation of leaders while celebrating the rich heritage that makes HBCU communities so extraordinary. We are committed and honored to show up authentically and consistently for communities that have given so much to culture and society,” she continued.
