North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University has received a $20 million gift from an anonymous donor.
The second-largest gift received in the university’s history, the donation “will have (an) immediate impact on scholarships for students working to meet the cost to attend for the 2024-25 school year,” the university said in a statement on Wednesday.
“While North Carolina A&T is ranked as America’s most affordable doctoral research university, a strong majority of the student body receives the Pell Grant, the nation’s most widely used source of federal aid,” according to the statement. “Many of A&T’s high-achieving students, who enter the university with an average GPA of 3.75, still struggle to make ends meet.”
Chancellor Harold L. Martin Sr. indicated that the gift would benefit the rising costs of college.
“For many families, meeting the rising costs of higher education is a challenge. Thanks to the support of our generous donor, we will be able to address this concern for a significant number of students,” Martin said. “We will use this gift to also support strategic opportunities in emerging academic areas, expanded study abroad experiences for students, and expanded campus lecture series. This gift will have a significant impact well into the future.”
The $20 million donation will be allocated as follows:
$15 million for scholarships
$2 million to establish endowed professorships in artificial intelligence
$2 million for international opportunities
$1 million to promote opportunities for campus communities to interact with major thought leaders through the ongoing Chancellor’s Speaker Series
These initiatives – drawn heavily from priorities identified in Preeminence 2030: North Carolina A&T Blueprint, the university’s strategic plan – were identified in collaboration with the donor.
School officials said the $15 million in funding allocated to scholarships will also help support a more equitable and inclusive campus environment.
The $5 million is expected to be allocated for international exchange, retaining professors, and sustaining the school’s Chancellor’s Speaker Series.
For NC A&T, the gift is second in size only to a $45 million gift from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott in 2020.
“We are deeply honored and grateful for this extraordinary gift,” said Kenneth E. Sigmon Jr., vice chancellor of university advancement. “This generous support will provide crucial resources to our students, faculty and programs, ensuring that N.C. A&T continues to thrive as a leading institution for higher learning and innovation.”
Courtesy: North Carolina A&T
