Damian Lillard partners with Portland State University to create the Damian Lillard Scholarship for East Bay High Schools

Portland State University announced the launch of a program conceived by Oakland native and one of Portland’s greatest athletes, NBA All Star Damian Lillard. The Damian Lillard Scholars program recognizes the academic success of students graduating from East Bay California high schools.

The Damian Lillard Scholars program will build a bridge for excellence between East Bay California high schools and PSU — Oregon’s urban research university. Available to students graduating from nine East Bay high schools, the PSU Damian Lillard Scholarship is $25,000 per year, significantly reducing the costs associated with out-of-state tuition.

As a result of a generous lead gift by the former Portland Trail Blazer and current Milwaukee Bucks star, selected Damian Lillard Scholars will also receive additional financial support to cover such expenses as food, housing, clothing, textbooks and transportation. Furthermore, friends from the Portland community have augmented Lillard’s philanthropic gift to cover any of the students’ unanticipated financial needs.

“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. My hope is that this scholarship becomes a stepping stone to a bright and promising future,” Lillard said.

“We could not be more proud to offer this scholarship to East Bay students while linking arms with one of Portland’s most exciting and inspiring civic leaders,” said PSU President Ann Cudd. “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.”

For the 2025-26 academic year, 27 Damian Lillard Scholar-eligible students have applied to Portland State, and 15 have been admitted so far. Six of those applicants are from Oakland High School and joined Lillard during the scholarship announcement in front of a 300-plus school assembly.