Damian Lillard launches new scholarship with Portland State

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Portland State University announced Thursday that they will be partnering with former Blazer star Damian Lillard to launch a new scholarship program.

“The Damian Lillard Scholars program will build a bridge for excellence between East Bay California high schools and PSU,” the school said in a press release.

The new scholarship supports high-achieving students from California’s East Bay secondary schools. Lillard unveiled the new grant at his alma mater, Oakland High School, explaining that it will provide $25,000 annually to students from nine East Bay high schools, greatly reducing the cost of out-of-state tuition.

The program will also provide extra funding for necessities like housing, food, clothing, textbooks, and transportation. 

Lillard expressed his excitement for the scholarship saying, “I’m so happy this scholarship has come to fruition. Students from my community in the East Bay now have an opportunity to pursue a college education in my adopted community of Portland without financial burdens.”

Just under 30 students have already applied for the scholarship for the 2025–2026 school year, and 15 have been accepted. Six of them got the opportunity to join Lillard at Oakland High School for the announcement. 

PSU President Ann Cudd said, “Damian Lillard has heaped so much love on the city of Portland that PSU counts him as one of our own. We are thrilled to partner with him to find pathways to a PSU education for students from his hometown.”  

Nine East Bay High Schools Eligible for the Damian Lillard Scholars Program:

• McClymonds High School
• Castlemont High School
• Oakland Technical HS
• Skyline High School
• Oakland High School
• Fremont High School
• Berkeley High School
• Bishop O’Dowd High School
• San Leandro High School