Southwestern College sophomore Chelsea Hare, Dallas, has been selected to receive a $2,425 UPS Scholarship for 2015-16 through the Kansas Independent College Fund (KICF).

Hare is the daughter of Tara Hare and is a graduate of North Garland High School.  She is a sophomore majoring in psychology.

“By awarding me the UPS Scholarship, I am able to concentrate on what is important for my education,” Hare says.  “By the financial generosity, it has allowed me to be one step closer to my goal and has inspired me to help others by giving back to the community. I hope one day I'll be able to help other students achieve their goals as the UPS Scholarship has helped me.”

The Kansas Independent College Fund (KICF) announced the awarding of 44,100 in UPS Scholarships to 18 high-achieving low-income students at private colleges and universities in the state. The scholarships were made possible by a grant from the UPS Educational Endowment Fund administered by the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) in Washington, DC.

Nationally, CIC and the UPS Foundation teamed up to provide nearly $1.5 million in student scholarships this year, which will be distributed through state-based private college associations around the country.  In Kansas, KICF presented a $2,450 to a student at each of KICF’s eighteen individual member institutions.  Those colleges and universities are: Baker University, Benedictine College, Bethany College, Bethel College, Central Christian College, Donnelly College, Friends University, Hesston College, Kansas Wesleyan University, McPherson College, Manhattan Christian College, MidAmerica Nazarene University, Newman University, Ottawa University, Southwestern College, Sterling College, Tabor College, and the University of Saint Mary.

The 18 UPS Scholars in Kansas have an average grade-point-average of better than 3.00. 

The UPS Scholarships were funded by the UPS Educational Endowment, which is held and administered by CIC. The Endowment was established in the 1970’s by the UPS Foundation to support programs to benefit underserved populations. Since its inception, the Endowment has generated over $50 million in scholarship support for more than 17,000 students at independent colleges and universities.

“Through this national scholarship program, CIC and UPS are delighted to make it possible for 614 deserving young men and women to attend the private college or university of their choice,” said Richard Ekman, president of CIC. “By directly assisting students with significant financial need, CIC and UPS are helping a new generation of students achieve their dreams of a college education.”

“Partnering with the CIC to develop the workforce of tomorrow by helping thousands of students obtain an education from our nation’s independent colleges is a very important initiative,” said Eduardo Martinez, president of The UPS Foundation. “We are also proud that The UPS Foundation and UPS employees directed more than $104 million in philanthropy and in-kind services, including more than 1.8 million hours of volunteer service, to local communities around the world in 2014.”