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UC Rethinks what scholarship means

More than 1.7 million fellowships and private scholarships in the United States are awarded each year (Dickler, 2020). Which means 25% of college students received money from scholarships and grants (Sallie Mae, 2021) and around 1,581,000 scholarships are available to undergraduate and graduate students each year (Scholly, 2020). The usual scholarship includes a letter, a call from an admissions officer, and a check. A very important check no doubt. But what does an investment really look like? It’s much more than money, it’s time, mentorship, experience, it’s building a community for not just a support, one that won’t let you fail.

In the spirit of one of their most notable alumnae Marian Spencer University of Cincinnati once again is embracing their institutional charge of “Next” by rethinking what a scholarship means. Marian’s fight for equality began early, as a UC student campaigning for an inclusive prom. And it remained personal—she chaired legal action to desegregate Coney Island Amusement Park after her two young sons were denied admittance. Her lifelong dedication to civil rights and racial justice have served to inspire the fearlessness in us all. As the:

  • First Black member of the national honors society
  • First female president of the Cincinnati branch of the NAACP
  • First Black female Cincinnati City Council Member
  • First African American elected president of the Woman’s City Club
  • First female African American Vice Mayor, City of Cincinnati

 

Marian set so many firsts it only seems fitting to have a scholarship that is first of its kind. It’s alive in our best and brightest. For this scholarship UC partnered with Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS) to offer the Marian Spencer Scholarship Program, to the top 10% of CPS seniors. And it’s much more than that really important check, it also includes:

  • Full cost of attendance (tuition, room and board, books)
  • Additional support for study abroad, co-op, summer opportunities
  • Residential living community in Marian Spencer Hall
  • Enhanced advising support, student success resources, and career coaching
  • Study abroad service trip to Tanzania with Village Life
  • Networking and mentoring opportunities with UC’s President and other university leaders
  • Service project with CPS students in future years

Marian and UC continue to raise the bar and challenge their higher ed peers across the country to rethink how support students through scholarship. The next generation of students and donors require it.