COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina Student Loan Corporation (SCSL), a long-term partner of SCICU, is deepening its Power:Ed program support with SCICU institutions through a grant to support undergraduate research at SCICU’s five historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs).
Power:Ed, S.C. Student Loan’s philanthropic arm, in its third cycle of awarding grants to local nonprofits, colleges, and other organizations that promote the success of South Carolina students, has awarded a $25,000 grant to SCICU supporting HBCU participation in SCICU’s annual Undergraduate Student/Faculty Research Program. SCICU’s five member HBCUs are: Allen University, Benedict College, Claflin University, Morris College, and Voorhees College.
Power:Ed has already awarded $100,000 to SCICU to support undergraduate students.
SCICU’s Undergraduate Student/Faculty Research Program provides substantial grant-funded research opportunities to undergraduates attending SCICU’s 21 member colleges and universities. The program presents students with professional research development opportunities – from submitting proposals for competitive funding review to presenting final project findings at the annual research symposium. Through generous donor support SCICU is well into its second decade of supporting undergraduate research at member institutions.
“SCICU deeply thanks the South Carolina Student Loan Corporation for its support of students at SCICU member HBCUs interested in participating in our Undergraduate Student/Faculty Research Program,” said Jeff Perez, SCICU president and CEO. “With this Power:Ed grant, SCICU-member HBCUs will be empowered to further encourage students to pursue faculty-mentored research typically only available in graduate school.”
In 2019 Power:Ed selected SCICU as its inaugural grant recipient. The 2019 $50,000 Power:Ed grant helped SCICU provide scholarships to rising juniors and seniors identified by their respective campus financial aid offices as at risk of dropping out of college due to financial hardships. Financial burdens are a primary cause for almost 15% of all students who have completed three-quarters of required courses to leave without a degree.
In the first round of Power:Ed grants, 45 SCICU students received average grants of $1,111. These grants helped 100% of student recipients return to campus the next academic year.
Power:Ed awarded SCICU a second $50,000 grant, again designated to help students persevere through financial hardships and stay in school. The second Power:Ed grant supported 32 SCICU students, with grants averaging $1,563. All students receiving Power:Ed grants in this round were able to return to campus for the 2021-22 academic year.
