Here For What Matters by Investing in Our Diverse Teams
Feb 08, 2024
How Dollar General Supports Students at HBCUs Year Round
During the onset of the pandemic, Alex B., now a DG warehouse supervisor, saw the world of technology as a new, in-demand career path. Pivoting from over a decade-long career working in corporate banking in Ghana, Africa, Alex moved to the United States in 2022 to pursue his master’s in technology management at North Carolina A&T University.
At the recommendation of a professor, Alex attended a Dollar General recruitment event on-campus - his first step towards a career at the Company. “The Company’s values resonated with me, and I saw it as somewhere I wanted to be in the long run,” said Alex. Fast forward just a few short months and he was selected for a 2023 supply chain internship at DG.
With one of four operating priorities being ‘Investing in our diverse teams through development, empowerment and inclusion,’ Dollar General recognizes the myriad of top talent from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). This priority is one of the many reasons why DG supports students like Alex at HBCUs year-round through recruitment efforts, on-campus events, and scholarships.
In 2023, DG’s HBCU Recruiting Team partnered with two of the Company’s employee resource groups - DG Young Professionals and the African American ERG - to host college student move-in events at four HBCU campuses. DG also participated in other events, including NC Agricultural & Technical State University’s SciTech Week and the National Black MBA Association Career Expo. From these efforts, DG recruited and onboarded 11 summer 2023 interns from 10 different HBCUs.
To recognize and celebrate Black History Month, DG is highlighting Alex’s success story as well as the stories of two other interns from his class – Martavious and Kelsie.
ALEX B.
Following the completion of his internship, Alex received an offer of full-time employment at DG as a warehouse supervisor and a $2,000 scholarship, which he utilized to cover educational fees.
In October, Alex shared his DG experience with his peers through a Lobby Day recruitment event at NC A&T state as a guest speaker. “It was great to share my experience with my fellow colleagues and feel their excitement around these internship opportunities,” said Alex. Students attending the event were able to ask questions, talk with DG leadership, and apply for various internships through the DG Careers site.
Alex continued his DG journey after graduation in December 2023, moving to South Carolina to serve at the Jonesville Distribution Center, where he is using his new expertise in technology to master warehouse management software. “New challenges excite me, and that’s what I see this next step as. I'm learning fast and applying myself to surmount anything that may come my way to continue to make my career at Dollar General a success.”
MARTAVIOUS Y.
Recruited from Alabama State University, Martavious served as a summer intern at a DG distribution center in Montgomery, Alabama. Martavious came to Dollar General with seven years of construction and management experience, serving as a maintenance chief in the U.S. Marine Corps. As a 2023 summer intern, he collaborated with the DG team to optimize the Warehouse Management System and support the operational excellence of the distribution center.
Martavious returned to campus after the internship where he continues to lead as the executive president of the University Programs and Activities Board, chairman of the Student Government Association Elections Committee, and the historian for Greater Montgomery Chapter Collegiate 100. He is now completing his undergraduate degree in Computer Information Systems with a focus on networking and cybersecurity and is on track to graduate in May 2024.
KELSIE B.
Kelsie interned as a member of the HR team for the Longview, Texas distribution center this past summer. Following the internship, she received a $2,000 scholarship to help with costs associated with completing her degree from Gambling State University.
On campus, Kelsie is a board of elections member for the Student Government Association as well as a member of the Gamma Sigma Sigma National Service Sorority. Kelsie is now graduated and exploring future opportunities at Dollar General.
At Dollar General, diversity is a strength the company relies on to best serve its customers, communities and employees. These partnerships with HBCUs help expand DG's recruitment efforts and better reflect the communities it serves. DG is proud to shine light on its teams, customers and communities this Black History Month and year-round through volunteer efforts and its mission of Serving Others.
Learn how Dollar General’s differences here.