STARRY® Teams Up with Rapper Lil Durk to Give HBCU Students a Shot at More Than $333,000 in Scholarships and Prizes

The lemon lime flavored soda is fueling stars' passions on and off the court with a chance to be the next face of STARRY FIZZ FEST, a hoops competition, plus scholarships from the PepsiCo Foundation

PURCHASE, N.Y., March 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Coming off a strong rookie year, STARRY®, a great-tasting soda bursting with lemon lime flavor that delivers the crisp, refreshing bite, is bringing a refreshing twist to basketball. The official soft drink of the NBA, WNBA, and NBA G League is teaming up with rapper and basketball fan Lil Durk to help fans unlock their on-the-court passion by bringing a different kind of basketball skills competition to college campuses with STARRY FIZZ FEST.

This spring, students across four HBCUs—Norfolk State University, Hampton University, Jackson State University and Morgan State University—will have a shot at more than $333,000 in scholarships and prizes, including a chance to secure an NIL deal traditionally reserved for student-athletes, giving a student a first-of-its-kind opportunity to become one of the new faces of STARRY. The winner will get an all-expenses paid trip to Kia NBA Tip-Off later this year. And like a true star with an NIL deal, their name, image and likeness will be featured on promotional materials for STARRY FIZZ FEST 2.0.  

No stranger to holding his own in an arena, Lil Durk is showing students how any fan can have the skills to win and will be making a surprise campus appearance to check out the competition.

"Being competitive doesn't just apply to sport, life itself is about hunger, drive and teamwork. This initiative is about rewarding students for their grind on and off the court, showing love and supporting our people while chasing their dreams," said Lil Durk.

For the stars off the court, STARRY is also partnering with the PepsiCo Foundation to unlock $80,000 in scholarships across the four universities. The PepsiCo Foundation will award $20,000 to one student at each university to go towards their education to help foster their long-term educational and professional growth. Eligible students can apply online.

"Our mission with STARRY FIZZ FEST is to bring the excitement to basketball fans that the brand is known for while rewarding HBCU students for their passion, amplifying their talent, and offering opportunities that positively impact these universities, their students and their communities," said Kent Montgomery, Senior Vice President, Industry Relations and Multicultural Development, PepsiCo.

STARRY FIZZ FEST will tip off at Norfolk State University on March 29, followed by Hampton University on April 1, Jackson State University on April 20 and Morgan State University on April 26. Participating students will get the chance to play S-T-A-R-R-Y (a spin on the popular game of H-O-R-S-E), 3PT Knockout (a three-point shootout contest reflective of the STARRY NBA All-Star and HBCU Classic tailgate footprint), and Shaky Shot (inspired by the classic arcade game, with a moving backboard) to claim prizes like STARRY merch and gift cards. For the game of S-T-A-R-R-Y, students will have three minutes to earn six letters by successfully scoring specified shots around the court until a participant spells out S-T-A-R-R-Y where the fastest time on campus wins. One winner from each school will represent their campus at a final competition to showcase their skills and earn major bragging rights.

For more on STARRY FIZZ FEST, fans can visit @STARRYLemonLime on social. Applications for the STARRY FIZZ FEST Scholarship Powered by The PepsiCo Foundation will open on April 8, 2024. For more information on how to apply, students can visit https://learnmore.scholarsapply.org/starryfizzfest/.

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Void where prohibited. Only legal US residents residing in one of the 50 United States or DC, 18 years or older. Participation subject to Official Rules. For Official Rules, including how to enter, prize details and restrictions, eligible students can visit the STARRY FIZZ FEST activation booth at Norfolk State University, Hampton University, Jackson State University, and Morgan State University on respective event dates.

About PepsiCo
PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers more than one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated more than $91 billion in net revenue in 2023, driven by a complementary beverage and convenient foods portfolio that includes Lay's, Doritos, Cheetos, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew, Quaker, and SodaStream. PepsiCo's product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including many iconic brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales.

Guiding PepsiCo is our vision to Be the Global Leader in Beverages and Convenient Foods by Winning with pep+ (PepsiCo Positive). pep+ is our strategic end-to-end transformation that puts sustainability and human capital at the center of how we will create value and growth by operating within planetary boundaries and inspiring positive change for planet and people. For more information, visit www.pepsico.com, and follow on X (Twitter), Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn @PepsiCo.

STARRY is a registered trademark of Portfolio Concentrate Solutions UC.

About The PepsiCo Foundation
The PepsiCo Foundation, the philanthropic arm of PepsiCo, invests in the essential elements of a sustainable food system with a mission to support thriving communities. Working with non-profits and experts around the globe, we're focused on helping communities obtain access to food security, safe water and economic opportunity. We strive for tangible impact in the places where we live and work—collaborating with industry peers, local and international organizations, and our employees to affect large-scale change on the issues that matter to us and are of global importance. Learn more at www.pepsicofoundation.com.

SOURCE PepsiCo Beverages North America