UNCF Donors Empower Nontraditional Students to Thrive

In December, Marques Carr’s higher education journey culminated with him walking across the stage to receive his diploma, just like the rest of his peers. Carr’s start is considered “nontraditional”, but his success illustrates how donor support for organizations like UNCF helps students from all academic backgrounds achieve their goals.

Rather than enrolling in college immediately after high school, Carr took two gap years to discover his passion. He then enrolled in Prince George’s Community College, where he was awarded a scholarship through the UNCF Associates Scholars Empowerment Program, a renewable, need-based scholarship for African American/Black students pursuing a certificate or associate degree.

Carr was surprised to learn that UNCF offers scholarships to students who aren’t enrolled in a four-year university, and the relief he felt from receiving the aid was unimaginable. “There’s nothing like going to class and you don’t have to worry about a financial burden or if your classes are going to be dropped the next day,” he said.

After completing his associate’s degree in business administration, Carr transferred to Morgan State University (MSU), where UNCF’s support continued. While attending MSU, Carr was a recipient of a scholarship through UNCF’s Lincoln Scholar Program, which also provides opportunities beyond financial aid. “It wasn’t just money that was offered,” Carr explained. “We had the opportunity to go through financial literacy courses that pushed us to be better professionals, students and upstanding citizens.”

Carr’s experiences demonstrate how donor support extends beyond tuition, equipping students with life skills that create long-term impact. In the District of Columbia, Maryland and Northern Virginia alone, more than $1 million in scholarships have been awarded to over 200 students between the 2023 and 2024 academic years, thanks to the generosity of UNCF patrons.

Carr was also selected to serve as a UNCF Student Ambassador at MSU for the 2025-2026 school year. In this role, he provided additional guidance to fellow students beyond what professors and counselors can offer. Because of his association with the organization, Carr was aware of the breadth of opportunities available to students in need, but noticed a knowledge gap on campus between students and those opportunities. Carr felt like becoming a student ambassador would be a great way to help bridge that gap.

“The desire to be a student ambassador came from just being an advocate, not only for myself but for other people,” he said. “So, I just tell my story in terms of how it helped me, and hopefully it can help somebody else.”

Donor generosity not only supported this student’s success, but also empowered him to multiply that impact across campus.

At every phase of Carr’s higher education journey, UNCF’s donor-supported opportunities met him where he was and helped propel him forward. To donors, Carr says: “Thank you for your contribution. I really appreciate it; without it, I might not have been able to finish at community college or complete my undergraduate degree and I, as a young man, hope and pray that I don’t let you down in any capacity.”