CCCS Internal Uplift Scholarship Program Aims to Increase College Enrollment and Completion Among Black and Hispanic Students by Addressing Critical Access Barriers
Denver, Colo. (3/22/22) – Today, the Foundation for Colorado Community Colleges and The PepsiCo Foundation announced the launch of the Uplift Scholarship program that supports Black and Hispanic students pursuing two-year degrees and certificates in high-growth industries. The program will bolster efforts to regain enrollment among students of color who have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic.
The Uplift program aims to guide students to jobs in business-related fields, including information technology, advanced manufacturing, logistics, sales, and marketing. Over the next two years, the program will provide 180 scholarships to Black and Hispanic students attending Community College of Aurora, Community College of Denver, and Front Range Community College.
This generous donation from the PepsiCo Foundation will help us close equity gaps and foster a skilled, diverse workforce for Colorado’s top industries.
In addition to financial assistance, the program provides students with dedicated success coaches, access to emergency grants, free financial literacy courses, and other support services.
“Higher education is the single most important tool we have for addressing economic and opportunity inequality. But just entering college is not enough,” said C.D. Glin, global head of philanthropy at PepsiCo and vice president of The PepsiCo Foundation. “Through the Uplift Scholarship, The PepsiCo Foundation and CCCS are working to ensure Black and Hispanic students not only have a chance to get into college but have access to critical resources to secure their diplomas and embark on meaningful careers.”
To apply for Fall 2022 scholarships, prospective and current students should complete this application by Friday, April 15. The application does not require transcripts, letters of recommendation, or resumes and qualifies students for additional scholarship opportunities.
“With this scholarship, the reality of my degree is one step closer, and that means the world to me,” said Eva Mendina, an Uplift Scholar attending Community College of Denver. “As the financial head of my family, I know how heavily our budget is impacted by sudden expenses. This scholarship provides me with relief and security I wouldn’t otherwise have, giving me more time to focus on academics.”
For more information on the application process, visit https://cccs.edu/cccs-foundation/scholarships.
###
About CCCS
The Colorado Community College System (CCCS) is the state’s largest system of higher education and workforce development, delivering thousands of programs to over 125,000 students annually through 13 colleges and 35 locations across Colorado. The System’s open-access mission ensures all Coloradans who aspire to enrich their lives have access to high quality, affordable higher education opportunities. The System Office provides leadership, advocacy, and support to the colleges under the direction of the State Board for Community Colleges and Occupational Education (SBCCOE). Join us in changing the way Colorado goes to college cccs.edu.
About the Foundation For Colorado Community Colleges
Founded in 1987, the Foundation for Colorado Community Colleges advances the mission, vision, goals, and objectives of the Colorado Community College System. Specifically, the Foundation actively seeks contributions from public and private sources to make scholarships available statewide, advance key programmatic initiatives, provide training and support for CCCS college foundations, and develop partnerships to implement state of the art programs that meet the workforce needs of the 21st century.
About The PepsiCo Foundation
Established in 1962, The PepsiCo Foundation, the philanthropic arm of PepsiCo, invests in the essential elements of a sustainable food system with a mission to support thriving communities. Working with non-profits and experts around the globe, we’re focused on helping communities obtain access to food security, safe water and economic opportunity. We strive for tangible impact in the places where we live and work—collaborating with industry peers, local and international organizations, and our employees to affect large-scale change on the issues that matter to us and are of global importance.
