Every UNC student can fondly recall the day they received their acceptance letter. But, for some, the good news is quickly swept aside, only to be replaced by anxiety about whether financial aid will be sufficient enough to attend.
Thanks to a $20 million donation from Steve and Debbie Vetter of Greensboro, the children of veterans and active military service members will be provided with need-based aid in conjunction with the Carolina Covenant Scholarship Program.
This campaign, known as the Red, White and Carolina Blue Challenge, is a part of the larger “For All Kind: The Campaign for Carolina” which aims to extend the University’s commitment to public service. The Vetter family contributed a total of $40 million to the University: $20 million for children of military families, $10 million to Kenan-Flagler Business School and $10 million to UNC athletics.
Both Steve and Debbie Vetter had relatives that were in the military and recognize that the military presence in North Carolina is particularly strong. Rachelle Feldman, associate provost and director of scholarships and student aid for the University, acknowledges the unique perspective that these students can bring to the campus.
“It’s not just about the students from the military families, it’s about what the other students who go to classes with them or meet them in clubs learn and experience from having those kinds of students in class with them,” Feldman said. “It benefits everyone to meet people that have come from a different experience.”
The Carolina Covenant Program, established in 2004, emphasizes that the general admissions process is need-blind and ensures that merit is prioritized over socioeconomic status.
Carolina Covenant admits students from the lowest socioeconomic quintile are given the opportunity to graduate debt free, said Brian Hogan, the director of the program.
"This is the first time that we are now actively seeking out students who are what we call 'military affiliates,' whether they're veterans or they're children of folks that are involved with the military because we do have such a large military presence here in the state."
The Carolina Covenant program currently serves one in 10 undergraduates, but the Red, White and Carolina Blue campaign aims to expand the program’s reach even further.
