United Negro College Fund Surprises First Recipient of Keck Foundation Scholarship

The College Fund (UNCF)
Thursday, 28 February 2002

The United Negro College Fund (UNCF) surprised Kimberly Michelle Usher during a taping of the Ananda Lewis Show, when the President and CEO of UNCF, William H. Gray, III, presented her with a $7,500 check making her the first recipient of the UNCF/Keck Foundation Family Aid Scholarship.

The United Negro College Fund and the W.M. Keck Foundation launched a $500,000 scholarship program in December of 2001 to provide financial support for students affected by the economic impact of the September 11th tragedy who attend private historically black colleges and universities.

Kimberly Michelle Usher, a sophomore majoring in political science at Dillard University in New Orleans, LA, is the first student to receive a scholarship from the program. The $7,500 scholarship will cover Kimberly's tuition for the rest of this semester. Kimberly has been struggling with financial hardships since her mother was laid off from United Airlines immediately following the terrorist attacks.

"The United Negro College Fund is pleased that the W.M. Keck Foundation has generously given its support to help students who are faced with the prospect of dropping out of college due to the tragedy," said William H. Gray III, President and CEO of UNCF. " Kimberly is just one of many students at UNCF institutions whose parents lost their jobs and we're happy to help her get through these difficult times."

Founded in 1944, the United Negro College Fund is the nation's oldest and most successful minority higher education assistance organization. UNCF has raised nearly $1.8 billion to support its 39 member institutions and has helped more than 300,000 students earn undergraduate and graduate degrees. Currently, UNCF administers more than 450 programs, including scholarship programs, mentoring, summer enrichment, curriculum and faculty development and leadership development.

For more information, or to contact The College Fund (UNCF), see their website at: www.uncf.org