N.C. A&T, The Osher Foundation Create Scholarship Program for Reentry Scholars

EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. (Aug. 25, 2023) – North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University has partnered with The Bernard Osher Foundation to create The Osher Scholarship Program at North Carolina A&T State University in support of non-traditional students.

The Osher Foundation has committed to a $50,000 bridge grant and a $1 million endowment in support of Osher Reentry Scholars who:

•       Show academic promise and a commitment to degree completion
•       Are enrolled either full or part-time
•       Are at the undergraduate level and pursuing their first undergraduate degree
•       Have experienced a cumulative gap in their education of five or more years
•       Anticipate participation in the workforce for a significant time after graduation
•       Demonstrate financial need

“The Osher Foundation is delighted to make its reentry scholarship support at N.C. A&T permanent,” said Mary Bitterman, Ph.D., The Bernard Osher Foundation president. “Older students often manage a variety of unique challenges while working toward their educational goals, and these scholarships are meant to make the pursuit of their degrees and dreams a little easier.”

The Osher Foundation supports scholarship programs at more than 250 colleges and universities around the country.

It makes grants and endowment gifts to colleges, universities, and other nonprofits in four program areas: post-secondary scholarships, lifelong learning institutes for seasoned adults, select integrative health programs, and arts and educational organizations.

“The Osher Foundation’s commitment to helping our non-traditional students helps us to fulfill our mission of improving the human condition and advances the Aggies at the Goal Line (AGL) program and other Adult Education programs led by Dr. Geleana Alston,” said Joscelyne M. Brazile, Ph.D., interim assistant vice chancellor for major gifts and constituent giving.

AGL is a degree completion program designed to help former Aggies who did not complete their bachelor’s degrees to return to the university to do so. The program is fully online and specially tailored to accommodate non-traditional students. Approximately 200 former students have re-enrolled through AGL and completed their degrees.

The funds from The Osher Scholarship Program at North Carolina A&T State University will be made available through the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid and awarded in increments of up to $6,000.

“These funds will continuously contribute to educating a population of students that are often working as they attend college to shoulder their college and life expenses,” Brazile said.