EAST GREENSBORO — In the wake of George Floyd’s killing and global racial protests, Cree says it finally has its response to calls for more social justice.

Its answer: a $4 million scholarship fund, set up in partnership with the historically Black North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (A&T), to send “eight to 10” minority students free of tuition, per year. That includes room and board, along with paid internships and possible full-time employment promised at the end — in perpetuity.

The semiconductor and LED firm has headquarters in Durham, and has an estimate 5,000 employees around the world.

“These students are going to get an opportunity that they otherwise, probably wouldn’t have,” said Cree CEO Gregg Lowe said in a video conference on Monday afternoon.

“I’m a big believer that education enables so many different paths forward. [This] creates sort of a fork in the road for a lot of kids that don’t have that opportunity. This is something where we can collectively say we, as a company, are making a difference.”

A&T says it is the largest single gift in the university’s history. The program will specifically support students within the College of Engineering Helping Orient Minorities to Engineering (H.O.M.E.) Program and the College of Science and Technology Inspiring Minds Program.

On the same day as the announcement, A&T maintained its position as the No. 1 public HBCU in America, according to the U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges 2021 issue, a spot it shares this year with Florida A&M. Both universities are tied for seventh overall in the HBCU listings.

“As the no. 1-ranked historically black university in America, we are committed to the success of every student and our delivery of high-quality, intellectually stimulating education that challenges them to achieve,” said NCAT Chancellor Harold L. Martin, Sr, said.

“This partnership with Cree will provide current and future students with more opportunities to excel and help lead the way to success both during and after their time at the university.”

Of particular note, A&T broke into the magazine’s annual ranking of the Most Innovative Schools for the first time. It is the nation’s only public HBCU included in that list, with Howard being the only other HBCU to join it. A&T tied at no. 68 with such schools as Penn State, Syracuse, Virginia, North Carolina State and Florida State.