Student wins UPS scholarship

Waxahachie, TX - September 19, 2011 - Southwestern Assemblies of God University (SAGU) freshman Brittney Matthews has been selected to receive a $2,400 UPS Scholarship provided through the ICUT Foundation. Matthews is from Fort Worth, TX, and is majoring in Social Work. She has volunteered with several community service organizations including Feed the Children and Americorps.

The ICUT Foundation is a 510 (c) charitable organization operated by the Independent Colleges and Universities of Texas, a statewide association for private colleges and universities. ICUT Foundation is affiliated with the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC). At the national level, CIC teams up with the UPS Foundation to distribute funding of the UPS Scholarship. This year, CIC awarded nearly $1.45 million in scholarships from its UPS Educational Endowment Fund to private institutions of higher learning across the nation, including a grant of $86,400 to the ICUT Foundation. These scholarships are awarded by the college or university on the basis of the students’ academic achievement and financial need.

The UPS Educational Endowment Fund, held and administered by CIC, was established in the 1980s through endowment gifts from the UPS Foundation totaling $4 million and is now valued at $39 million. Since its inception, this fund has awarded $48 million in scholarship support to over 16,000 students nationwide.

“A college degree opens the door to countless opportunities,” said Ken Sternad, president of the UPS Foundation. “UPS takes great pride in our partnership with CIC and in our support of thousands of students over the years who have been able to pursue an education from our nation’s private colleges.”

“This joint UPS/CIC scholarship program has a direct, tangible impact on the education and careers of hundreds of young men and women each year,” said Richard Ekman, president of CIC. “Because so many young men and women don’t have the financial resources to complete their college education, the UPS Scholarships are critically important.”

The Council of Independent Colleges is an association of nearly 700 independent, liberal arts colleges and universities and higher education affiliates and organizations that work together to strengthen college and university leadership, sustain high-quality education, and enhance private higher education’s contributions to society. To fulfill this mission, CIC provides its members with skills, tools, and knowledge that address aspects of leadership, financial management and performance, academic quality, and institutional visibility. In addition, 32 State Fund Members coordinate programs, provide information, and generate contributions, grants, and gifts in support of private colleges and universities within their respective states.

For more information about The Council of Independent Colleges, visit http://www.cic.eduwww.cic.edu.

Southwestern Assemblies of God University is a private, Christian university located 30 minutes south of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex in Waxahachie, Texas. The University was established in 1927, and now offers more than 60 associate, bachelor’s or master’s degrees on campus or online. More information is available at http://www.sagu.eduwww.sagu.edu or by calling 1-888-YES-SAGU.