British rapper Stormzyadded yet another illustrious distinction to his resume. The artist, born Michael Ebenezer Kwadjo Omari Owuo Jr, has been elected an honorary fellow of Jesus College at the University of Cambridge.

His nomination was a testament to both his cultural impact and his significant philanthropic work, as since 2018 he is the initiator and funder of the Stormzy Scholarship Programme, which paves the way for black students from the UK to study at Cambridge.

It is the second accolade Stormzy has received from the University as he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws in June for the “transformative” nature of his scholarship programme.

To date, 68 students have benefited from the scheme, which is supported by the #Merky Foundation, with the largest group of fellows expected to join in 2025 according to the Guardian.

“Stormzy is an amazing storyteller, creative mind and advocate for social change. Its cultural impact is enormous” said the chancellor of Jesus College, Sonita Alleyne.

“We share many values, such as supporting students from vulnerable social groups, tackling inequalities and using the arts as a force for the common good. We believe that by joining the college he will inspire both our current and future students and enrich our community.” completed.

Growing up in South London, Stormzy – one of four siblings raised by his Ghanaian mother, a devout Christian, shot to fame a decade ago with the song ‘Shut Up’.

Since then he has repeatedly topped the charts while gaining worldwide recognition as an advocate for social justice.

In 2020, he created the foundation #Merky Foundationpledging to donate £10m over 10 years to support organizations promoting racial equality and justice

Expanding his action in the world of sports, two years later he founded #Merky FC in collaboration with Adidas, with the aim of promoting black talent in the field of football. The initiative is based in his hometown of Croydon, South London.

It is worth noting that in 2020 he also received an honorary degree from the University of Exeter “in recognition of his outstanding achievements in the fields of higher education, philanthropy and widening participation.”