Spelman Alumna Graduates Nearly Debt-Free Through UNCF Scholarships
Kaitlyn Bowman, a recent graduate of Spelman College, one of UNCF’s member institutions, received several UNCF scholarships through her undergraduate studies: the NAACP/Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Scholarship program and the CBS Sports HBCU Scholarship. Bowman is currently majoring in conflict management and resolution at the University of San Diego.
Receiving support from organizations like UNCF has enabled her to graduate from Spelman nearly debt-free. Bowman received 15 scholarships total from UNCF, several of which are renewable. “When I first started at Spelman, I wasn’t sure how I could navigate financially, academically or even personally,” she said. “I remained consistent, optimistic and always did my research [on what] was available on the UNCF [scholarships] portal page.”
UNCF supports college students through its scholarships, internships and professional development programs. Bowman credits UNCF for honing her transferrable skills that helped her serve in numerous leadership roles on campus and internships. In her junior year at Spelman, she was selected as a NetSuite social impact internin the UNCF Oracle Corporate Scholars Program. “I was just a rising junior entering a corporate space for the first time,” she said. “Learning how to take the initiative and connect with professionals who had years of wisdom and experience was invaluable. I applied the principles that aligned with mine, such as professionalism and initiative, and carried them forward as transferable skills.”
With UNCF scholarships lifting the financial burden of attending college, Bowman was able to participate in roles that helped her excel and grow in her career. Throughout her undergraduate journey at Spelman, she held numerous leadership roles and participated in several honor societies on campus that aligned with her values, including co-training coordinator for the Spelman student ambassadors’ program, second attendant to the 88th Miss Maroon & White at Morehouse College and the parliamentarian for the Mu Pi Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
Bowman did not envision she would end up attending an HBCU. But Spelman became her home. As a senior in high school, her mom encouraged her to make a top five college list. She reluctantly added Spelman to the list without knowing a lot about the college. When she was accepted on her mom’s birthday, she saw it as a sign to attend. “After attending virtual information sessions, I felt like I belonged,” she shared. “The admissions counselors and students created a welcoming space to understand Spelman. I could feel the Spelman community wanting women like me to thrive and succeed.”
The Spelman community and UNCF’s unwavering support showed her the possibilities of her dreams. “If I hadn’t received support from UNCF, my path would look very different,” Bowman shared. “I have always been disciplined about finding opportunities and creating possibilities for myself, but, without UNCF, some doors simply would not have opened as widely.” Bowman believes UNCF scholarships and programming enhance HBCU students’ network and confidence and provide students with exposure to professional growth opportunities. She’s thankful for having a community that believes in her, pushes her to embrace new challenges and wants her to thrive.
After obtaining her master’s degree from the University of San Diego, Bowman plans to become an entertainment attorney to protect artists and creators. The opportunities and experiences she is gaining through UNCF inspire her to give back to her community and create spaces for other students to thrive.
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 Kaitlyn Bowman in their academic endeavors.