Several North Carolina Historically Black Universities Get New Scholarships To Lure Students

Two historically black universities — one in the Triangle and another in the Triad — will soon be offering dozens of the nation's best and brightest full rides.

The Cheatham-White Scholarships programs will take place at North Carolina Central and North Carolina A&T State Universities. They were set up and partially funded by the state legislature, and their announcement last year came as a pleasant surprise to both university chancellors.

The scholarships are named after Henry George Cheatham and George White. Both African-Americans were Republican legislators who served two terms in Congress in the 1890s.

Beginning in the fall of 2018, twenty scholarships, valued at roughly $75 thousand dollars apiece, will be made available at both A&T University in Greensboro and NC Central in Durham, where they'll fully cover four years of study.

North Carolina high schools will nominate potential Cheatham-White scholars. The awards are competitive, requiring straight-A averages in high school and national test scores in the 90th percentile. In addition to demonstrating superior academic achievement, the young scholars will also need to show heavy extracurricular involvement, exceptional leadership skills, and a commitment to service.

Both HBCUs are hopeful that the new scholarships will allow them to better compete with top-notch Ivy League schools and others. A&T Associate Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management says that the Cheatham-White Scholarships program will be funded equally by the state legislature and matching funds from both A&T and Central universities.