Coleman Holmes of Stockbridge, GA is a recent recipient of the Macy’s Mission Every One Scholarship, administered by UNCF. Holmes is a freshman at Tuskegee University, a UNCF-member institution, where he is pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering.

“The scholarship that I received from UNCF helped clear my balance for the fall semester,” he said. “The scholarship reduced the amount of student loans that I had to accept my freshman year.” Without this scholarship, he would have been forced to  take out private loans to close the sizeable funding gap.

Scholarships dramatically reduced the financial stress he experienced as a freshman and helped him focus on his studies and Navy ROTC training. “UNCF’s support of my education motivates me to work harder and continue building the skills I need to succeed,” said Holmes.

The impact of  UNCF support helps students like Holmes realize people are in their corner and want to see them succeed. “I have learned that there are many individuals, families, organizations and corporations that believe in HBCU students and are willing to support us financially,” he added.

The summer before Holmes’ freshman year was a memorable time in his life, as he participated in Tuskegee’s Freshman Accelerated Start-up and Training for Retention in Engineering Curricula (FASTREC) program, an eight-week summer program preparing rising high school seniors and graduating seniors to study in a collegiate level engineering program. “The program taught me how to effectively use study groups and manage my time—skills that became essential as I quickly discovered how different college is from high school,” he said.

He chose the university after being awarded a scholarship for Tuskegee’s engineering program. “After visiting the campus several times, I felt confident that Tuskegee was the right fit for me—both academically and personally,” he said.

After graduating from Tuskegee, he plans to pursue a career in military leadership or the automotive industry. With the support of UNCF, Holmes is inspired to give back and to continue championing access to higher education. “[UNCF’s] generosity motivates me to excel academically and to one day give back when I am financially able,” he shared. “It is important that we honor their investment [in me] by working hard and contributing to the success of future students.”

UNCF is proud of our students and alumni who have received scholarships that help them continue their education and graduate. These scholarships are invaluable to students, and UNCF is accepting donations to support students like Coleman Holmes in their academic endeavors.

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