The Geo Group Inc. provided scholarships to seven Chowan University students at the end of September for the 2018-2019 academic year.

Since 2000, The Geo Group, Inc. has partnered with Chowan University to provide financial support for students on their journey to higher education. In June 2018, The Geo Group Inc. made another generous donation to scholarships that were dispersed at the end of September to seven qualified students. Each student received a $1,000 scholarship:

Marquez Alston of Henderson, NC- Criminal Justice

Rayven Freeman of Leland, NC- Criminal Justice

Alexis Burke of Lawrenceville, VA- Criminal Justice

Emily Stafford of Palm Harbor, FL- Criminal Justice

Cynthia Carrier of Levis, Quebec, Canada- Business

Alexis Riddick of Hampton, VA- Business

Harley Williams of Seaboard, NC- Business

Dr. Kirk E. Peterson, President of Chowan University, stated, “We are pleased to continue our partnership with Geo Group. Many talented students have benefited from scholarship assistance over the years.” He continued “This added financial support helps make their goal of graduation tangible.”

With the addition of this year’s recipients, Geo Group has given more than $28,000 to Chowan University to support 27 students in their academic efforts. The Geo Group Incorporated Annual Scholarship is awarded to business and criminal justice majors who submit an application, complete with an essay, by the established deadline. Awardees are selected by the Dean of the School of Business and Chair of the Criminal Justice Department with the support of the respective departmental faculty.

The relationship between Chowan and Geo Group stemmed from the Geo Group Community Relations Board. Vice President for Development John M. Tayloe represents Chowan as a community stakeholder. When Geo Group became interested in supporting higher education in the local community Chowan students were clearly the logical benefactors.

The local Geo Group facility is commonly known as Rivers Correctional. The mission of the organization, as stated on the website, is to “Develop innovative public-private partnerships with government agencies around the globe that deliver high quality, cost-efficient correctional, detention, community reentry, and electronic monitoring services while providing industry leading rehabilitation and community reintegration programs to the men and women entrusted in their care.”