Shakoya Cartwright Receives UPS Scholarship to attend Hardin-Simmons University

ABILENE, TX (08/17/2011)(readMedia)-- Shakoya Cartwright, a senior at Hardin-Simmons University, has been selected to receive a $2,400 UPS Scholarship provided through the Independent Colleges and Universities of Texas Foundation. Cartwright, of Shelbyville, Texas, is a business education major at Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas.

Each year the Council of Independent Colleges teams up with the United Parcel Service Foundation to distribute funding of the 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. 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 1980's 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."

HSU distributes approximately $12 million each year in scholarships to students, and has an enrollment of approximately 2,300 undergraduate and graduate students. Also, for the 20th year HSU guaranteed students a tuition rate that does not increase as long as full-time enrollment is maintained during consecutive fall and spring semesters.