Student Support

A prize for access

Carolina is the first public university to receive the Cooke Foundation’s $1 million award, which recognizes success in enrolling low-income students and supporting them through graduation. The Cooke Foundation is a private organization that supports exceptional students from elementary school to graduate school through scholarships, grants and direct service.

Carolina is the first public university to receive the Cooke Foundation’s $1 million award, which recognizes success in enrolling low-income students and supporting them through graduation. The Cooke Foundation is a private organization that supports exceptional students from elementary school to graduate school through scholarships, grants and direct service.

“It’s not just something that we want to do, it’s really something that we must do,” Chancellor Carol L. Folt said. “It is our responsibility to create access and opportunity and open those wide for people to come through and be successful.”

Isai Garcia-Baza ’16, the son of Mexican immigrants who were unable to earn a higher education degree, was raised to believe that college was undoubtedly in his future.

As he got older, he realized the path to higher education would be more challenging—and expensive—than he once thought. Through the Carolina Student Transfer Excellence Program and the Carolina Covenant, Garcia-Baza became the first member of his family to earn a college degree this past May.

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s years of dedication to provide support and opportunities for thousands of students like Garcia-Baza was recognized when the Jack Kent Cooke FoundationOpens in new window awarded Carolina with the 2017 Cooke Prize for Equity in Educational ExcellenceOpens in new window.

This is story number 82 in the Carolina Stories 225th Anniversary Edition magazine.

Campaign Funding Priorities

    Explore More Stories

    Sonny Griffith seated at a table in a library in front of a laptop
    Student Support

    Following the Narrative

    A Carolina Covenant Scholar pursues career-enhancing experiences through the Career Accelerator Program.

    Ana Zurita Posas, Scott Hamilton, and Kevin Guskiewicz stand laughing at the Golden LEAF Luncheon
    Student Support

    Supporting North Carolina’s Rural Communities

    Golden LEAF Scholarship increases opportunities for rural North Carolinians

    Junior Brenda Palacios Rodriguez poses for a portrait in the Coker Arboretum.
    Student Support

    Supporting Middle-Income Families

    The Blue Sky Scholars Program give scholarship support to middle-income parents and students.

    David Routh stands in the center of his family holding the Order of the Long Leaf Pine Award with Eddie Smith Field in the background.
    Student Support

    ‘Uplifting future generations’

    The David and Jenny Routh Blue Sky Scholars Fund honoring the vice chancellor for development and his wife will support 12 students a year in perpetuity.

    Portrait of Alex Acosta
    Student Support

    ‘Where I’m Meant to Be’

    The third of four children, Alex Acosta '24 talks about how the Carolina Covenant opens doors and provides support.

    Donor

    Focused on Career Development

    Rick Margerison ’70, along with his wife Leah, is still finding new ways to pay it forward.