One of the world’s best-selling music artists is making her fans’ academic dreams come true.
Nicki Minaj, the award-winning MC known for her rapid-fire flow and quirky alter egos, announced Friday that she will pay the full college tuition or remaining student loans for 37 of her fans via her new scholarship fund called Student of the Game, Billboard reports.
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“This sh!t has been very time consuming but I’m so moved by your desires to stay in college,” Minaj tweeted in early June. “So proud. You have no idea.”
I am STILL going through my #StudentOfTheGame stuff y’all. I think I’ll go live on the 11th to announce the winners. This sh!t has been very time consuming but I’m so moved by your desires to stay in college. So proud. You have no idea. ♥️
— Chun-Li (@NICKIMINAJ) June 6, 2018
The “Chun-Li” rapper’s new initiative began to emerge in 2017, when a fan asked if the artist would cover her college tuition. Not long after, Minaj posted a handful of students’ names with a total of their loans, school expenses, and summer classes she spontaneously paid off via her Instagram, according to Billboard.
The rapper then announced in the caption that she would be launching an official scholarship fund for future submissions. The Student of the Game charity launched this spring.
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The response from recipients online was swift and emotional, with many referring to Minaj as a “blessing” and posting images of themselves in tears.
so blessed and grateful, I love you so much nicki. thank you for EVERYTHING and helping me w/ my education 💕 I love you @NICKIMINAJ#StudentOfTheGamepic.twitter.com/lTIaJzslXM
— Cesar (@cesarszn) June 29, 2018
Nicki is such a blessing pic.twitter.com/BkwzOSvM8p
— Brianna 💕🌸 (@Down_SouthBarb) June 30, 2018
I don’t know any artists/celebrity that does what Nicki does. She talks to us, makes jokes with us, follows us on Twitter, reminisces with us AND pays for our college needs. We really stan the generous QUEEN. Thank you @NICKIMINAJ#StudentOfTheGamepic.twitter.com/tdjq5M6rxR
— Nicki’s back. (@vybezkarteI) June 30, 2018
But the scholarship fund isn’t Minaj’s first dance with philanthropy. In the past, the rapper also partnered with a nonprofit through her pastor, Lydia Sloley, to provide water wells, sewing machines, and a computer center to an Indian village.
“This is the kind of thing that makes me feel the most proud,” Minaj wrote on Instagram at the time.