INDIANAPOLIS – Ivy Tech Community College and The PepsiCo Foundation announced the launch of the Uplift Scholarship program March 29 to support Black and Hispanic students pursuing two-year degrees and professional certificate programs. In addition to financial assistance, the program will provide students with dedicated success coaches, access to emergency grants, and financial literacy courses.
The partnership, which was announced at Ivy Tech’s Spirit of Diversity Awards dinner, will support 52 Black, Latino and Hispanic students studying information technology and advanced manufacturing, helping them to pursue high-demand careers.
“Ivy Tech is proud to partner with PepsiCo for the Uplift Scholarship program,” said Sue Ellspermann, president of Ivy Tech. “We appreciate PepsiCo’s commitment to helping minority students with financial need opportunities to complete credentials in high-wage, high-demand fields and address Indiana’s workforce demand.”
The Uplift Scholarship program is part of The PepsiCo Foundation’s $40 million commitment to address historical barriers that make it challenging for minority students to enroll, persist, and graduate from college – barriers that have widened during the pandemic. The Foundation’s Uplift Scholarship is currently offered at 20 community colleges across the country with the goal of providing 4,000 scholarships over five years.
“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 for PepsiCo and vice president of the PepsiCo Foundation. “Through the Uplift scholarship, The PepsiCo Foundation and Ivy Tech 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 be eligible for the Uplift Scholarship, students must be either Black, Latino or Hispanic new first-time Ivy Tech students, enrolled at least half-time (six credits), possess a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher, have a current FAFSA on file, have financial need, and be seeking a credential/degree in information technology or advanced manufacturing.
Ivy Tech received $400,000 in scholarship funds for the Uplift Scholarship program and has distributed over $100,000 so far to students at Ivy Tech’s Indianapolis, South Bend/Elkhart and Marion campuses.
About Ivy Tech Community College
Ivy Tech Community College is Indiana’s largest public post-secondary institution and the nation’s largest singly accredited statewide community college system, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Ivy Tech has campuses throughout Indiana and also serves thousands of students annually online. It serves as the state’s engine of workforce development, offering associate degree and short-term certificate programs, and trainings that align to the needs of the community. The college also offers courses and associate degree programs that seamlessly transfer to other colleges and universities in Indiana, as well as out of state, for a more affordable route to a bachelor’s degree.