All in the Family: 3 Family Members Attended Tuskegee University

James Wilcher, a junior at Tuskegee University, a UNCF-member institution, received the Foot Locker Foundation Scholarship from UNCF for the 2023-2024 school year. Foot Locker Foundation, Inc., partnered with UNCF to fund this scholarship program for students attending a UNCF-member institution. The foundation works to improve upward mobility and build a more equitable and inclusive future through education, economic development and community empowerment.

“One thing a lot of students deal with is that burden of financials,” Wilcher explained. “The scholarship takes your mind off a lot of that and allows you to just focus on school. It helped me to really focus and home in on why I came to school.”

Wilcher is a health sciences major and psychology minor at Tuskegee, where several of his family members attended. His older sister also attends Tuskegee, and his mother is an alumna of the school. “That background influenced me,” Wilcher said. “I got to tour with my sister and tour again when it was time for me to come. I really like the campus. It was the only HBCU I had on my radar.”

Tuskegee offered Wilcher the most financial aid, “so economically it made the most sense to come here,” he said. “Everything just lined up.”

He was inspired to pursue radiology after taking a sports medicine class. “I thought it was cool learning about the human body,” he said. “That’s where I found a love for science and healthcare in general. Radiology felt like it was the perfect mix between healthcare and technology.”

After completing his undergraduate degree, Wilcher plans to go on to medical school and become a diagnostic radiologist. “For someone like me who plans on going to school after [undergrad], having something like this that can boost me is a financial accomplishment,” he shared. “Someone has faith in me. That instills that confidence that makes me believe not only can I get through this, but maybe when I fill out medical school applications, they’ll look at the same things they looked at for this scholarship.”

During Wilcher’s freshman year, his mom went back to school for her master’s degree. “I was a little iffy on medical school [at first], because it would be more than four years,” he said. “If she can do this, then I know I can too. I can strive for more than a bachelor’s.”

One of Wilcher’s proudest moments at Tuskegee was becoming a resident assistant (RA). He has now served as an RA for a year and a half. “It was something I never saw myself doing,” Wilcher said. “That was really cool for me because growing up, I was never a talkative person. When it came to social skills and intangible soft skills, maybe I wasn’t as adept. But going through that process and getting the job, it boosted my confidence. I can truly achieve more than I thought.” 

Wilcher has important advice for students. “Be open to different avenues and opportunities, no matter if you feel ‘that’s not for me,’” he said. “Be open minded and receptive to anything and experience things for yourself. Putting yourself out there and filling out the applications [for scholarships, for internships] can take you a long way and really get your foot in the door.”

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 James Wilcher in their academic endeavors.