Covenant Experiences & Impact

impact report

scholar alumni

Our scholars graduate from Carolina and go out into a world to do amazing things

Taylor Black (’15) is a U.S. Fulbright Scholar. Taylor graduated with a BA in Linguistics and Music and also as a Buckley Public Service Scholar, first generation college student. She has lived in China and worked for Disney English in Guangzhou, Guangdong; completed an AmeriCorps NCCC service term with FEMACorps; received a Presidential Gold Service Award and Congressional Bronze Medal for her service on Hurricane Matthew, the tornadoes in New Orleans East, and the severe floods in Baton Rouge. Taylor currently supports the teaching of English at The Institute of Engineering and Technology as part of a project of Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship. Black is one of over 2,100 U.S. citizens who will conduct research, teach English, and provide expertise abroad for the 2019-2020 academic year through the Fulbright U.S. Student Program. She says the Carolina Covenant, “opened up so many doors” for her.

Chemistry Professor Maribel Borger, Ph.D. (ASBA ’14) came back to Carolina to teach Chemistry and now supports other Covenant Scholars as a mentor with the program.

Lorenzo Hopper (ASBA’10) Professor at UNC Charlotte and doctoral candidate at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health. “The Carolina Covenant Program allowed me to do what every college student should be able to do: focus on academics and extracurriculars instead of wondering where money will come from to pay for books, food, and housing. The Carolina Covenant Program also provided me with a community (e.g., from Professor Fred Clark’s movie nights on North Campus) and resources (e.g., information about the Learning Center in SASB on South Campus) to have a successful undergraduate experience; it also prepared me for my next step in life with free LSAT prep courses for law school. I’m a North Carolina licensed attorney today thanks to the Carolina Covenant Program.”

Charles Hands, J.D. (’14) now practices law in Charlotte NC and serving on the advisory board to the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-America Arts & Culture and co-founder of the group Engage Millennials. “The Carolina Covenant Program allowed me to do what every college student should be able to do: focus on academics and extracurriculars instead of wondering where money will come from to pay for books, food, and housing. The Carolina Covenant Program also provided me with a community (e.g., from Professor Fred Clark’s movie nights on North Campus) and resources (e.g., information about the Learning Center in SASB on South Campus) to have a successful undergraduate experience; it also prepared me for my next step in life with free LSAT prep courses for law school. I’m a North Carolina licensed attorney today thanks to the Carolina Covenant Program.”

COVENANT COMMUNITY

Frank Kessler (Carolina Covenant Learning and Test-Prep Specialist) with Luis Acosta (’17) and Kisan Thakkar (’17). Acosta and Thakkar are both medical students at the UNC School of Medicine. Luis says the Covenant made a “tremendous” impact on his life – giving him the resources and staff support that got me through undergrad and into medical school.

“Serving as a faculty mentor helps me ‘pay it forward’ for all the help I’ve gotten from others, and I love interacting with the scholars!” – Bob Goldstein, Professor, Biology, and Covenant Mentor
“Being a mentor allows me to build long-lasting relationships with students that extend well beyond graduation. Nothing is more important to me than helping young students find a passion for a subject, a career, or simply expanding their intellectual and personal horizons. My life is better through knowing my mentees.” – Brian Hogan, Teaching Professor, Chemistry, and Covenant Mentor

Covenant Scholars engage in events throughout the year to build community.

Testimonials

“I cannot express how grateful I am for this program. To not have to worry about how I was going to pay for college, and then graduating practically debt free, was a springboard to the success and career I love having now. Thank you from my mother, a proud, hard-working immigrant, single mother who gave everything for her kids. Thank you from me, a first generation American who feels like the Carolina Covenant is a huge reason the American Dream is accessible to me. And thank you from my future posterity, who will hopefully stand on my shoulders”
-Cindy Poovey ’09

“Carolina Covenant greatly impacted my life. It was offered at a time where my family was really struggling. I had so much on my plate, juggling school, extra curriculars, a job, and a crumbling family life. Having the support of Carolina Covenant took one large worry off of my plate. It allowed me to truly focus on my education and put my future first so that I could dictate my own success and find my own financial freedom. I would not have been able to attend college without it and the staff involved with CC! Thank you!”
-Abigail Horne ’17, now working at Durham, NC Veterans Affairs Health Care System

“The Carolina Covenant gave me a supportive network of caring staff who were so invested in our academic success and personal growth.”
-Stella Lam ’09