The North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities (NCICU) has named 36 students to receive the CIC/UPS Scholarship for the 2020- 2021 academic year. These generous gifts are graciously funded by a grant from the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) in Washington, DC, via the CIC/UPS Educational Endowment. 

The CIC is an association of nonprofit, independent colleges and universities, state-based councils of independent colleges, and other higher education affiliates, that works to support college and university leadership, advance institutional excellence and enhance public understanding of independent higher education’s contributions to society. They are a major national organization that focuses on services to leaders of independent colleges. Freshman Graphic Design major, Ulysses Orteg-Espino from La Grange, NC was chosen by the NCICU as Chowan University’s recipient of the 2020- 2021 CIC/ UPS Scholarship. 

The leaders of the NCICU and CIC eloquently capture the importance of this scholarship and their mission to help provide private college education to low-income, first-generation, and minority students. In a statement given by Hope Williams, NCICU’s organization president, she noted that “UPS has been a valued supporter of independent higher education for more than 40 years. The scholarships they provide to students at each of our 36 campuses are significant and help make it possible for students to meet their educational goals.” Richard Ekman, president of CIC, also commented that “Helping these students afford a private college education is a truly critical need in our society, and it is rewarding to be a partner with the UPS Foundation and NCICU as we help to support deserving students.” In total, the CIC has provided over 1.5 million dollars for more than 21,000 students to make private colleges and universities more affordable to qualifying students across the nation. The CIC/UPS Scholarship Program has had a transformative impact on individuals, families, and communities across the country.