WVICU Distributes $24,000 in CIC/UPS Scholarships to
West Virginia Private Colleges and Universities
Charleston, W.Va. – The West Virginia Independent Colleges & Universities has distributed $24,000 in CIC/UPS Scholarships to assist several students at private colleges and universities in West Virginia. The scholarships were made possible by a grant from the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) in Washington, DC, through the CIC/UPS Educational Endowment.
“The CIC/UPS Scholarships are part of our Circle of Vision Scholarship Program that benefits West Virginia students attending our eight, private member-institutions,” said Ben Beakes, executive director of WVICU. “Since 1997 we have awarded over $6 million in scholarship support to our students. The CIC/UPS Scholarships are a vital part of our program. We are grateful to the CIC and the UPS Foundation for their continued support of our mission.”
Nationally, CIC provided more than $1.5 million in student scholarships through state-based associations to make private colleges and universities more affordable and accessible to underserved students.
Colleges in West Virginia that received CIC/UPS Scholarships this year from WVICU include Alderson Broaddus University, Appalachian Bible College, Bethany College, Davis & Elkins College, Ohio Valley University, University of Charleston, West Virginia Wesleyan College, and Wheeling University.
“Independent colleges and universities in this country are remarkably effective at educating and graduating low-income and first-generation students in less time, with less student debt,” said Richard Ekman, president of CIC. “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 the WVICU as we help to support deserving students.”
The CIC/UPS Scholarships Program has made a private college education possible for more than 21,000 low-income, first generation, and minority students and has had a transformative impact on individuals, families, and communities across the country.
“The UPS Foundation is honored to work with CIC to provide scholarships for students at independent colleges and universities,” said Eduardo Martinez, president of the UPS Foundation and chief diversity and inclusion officer at UPS. “Our goal is to fund powerful programs that make a lasting difference to the global community.”
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About the West Virginia Independent Colleges & Universities
The WVICU is an association made up of the eight nonprofit, private colleges and universities in West Virginia. Its mission is to advance collectively the interests of West Virginia’s independent colleges and universities and their students. It serves roughly 7,500 students, half of which reside in West Virginia, and collectively have over a $600 million annual economic impact on the state. Through its Circle of Vision Scholarship Program, the WVICU has awarded over $6 million in scholarships to its member-institution students since 1997. Learn more at wvicu.org.
About the Council of Independent Colleges
The Council of Independent Colleges (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. CIC is the major national organization that focuses on services to leaders of independent colleges and universities and state-based councils. CIC offers conferences, seminars, publications, and other programs and services that help institutions improve educational quality, administrative and financial performance, student outcomes, and institutional visibility. It conducts the largest annual conferences of college and university presidents and of chief academic officers. Founded in 1956, CIC is headquartered at One Dupont Circle in Washington, DC. www.cic.edu
About The UPS Foundation
Since its founding in 1907, UPS has built a legacy as a caring and responsible corporate citizen, supporting programs that provide long-term solutions to community needs. Founded in 1951, The UPS Foundation leads its global citizenship programs and is responsible for facilitating community involvement to local, national, and global communities. In 2019, UPS and its employees, active and retired, invested more than $123.8 million in charitable giving around the world. The UPS Foundation can be found at UPS.com/Foundation and @UPS_Foundation on Twitter.