September 6, 2018
East Texas Baptist University senior and Business Management major Adryna Roberson has been selected to receive a PACCAR Scholarship provided by the Independent Colleges and Universities of Texas (ICUT) Foundation and its national partner, the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC). Originally from Corinth, Texas, Roberson is involved with the ETBU Women’s Ministry, Enactus, Student Government Association (SGA), and Women’s Choir, and ETBU Women’s Basketball.
“Receiving the PACCAR Scholarship is an answer to prayer,” Roberson shared. “The support system that the Lord has provided has guided me to the place I am now. ETBU has surrounded me with people who want to see me succeed in life. I am thankful for my professors and others, who invest in me no matter what.”
In 1951, PACCAR Inc. formed the PACCAR Foundation as a private foundation to direct grants to United Way, universities, hospitals, and programs for the arts and education in communities where the company has a significant presence. Early in the 21st century, the PACCAR Foundation began to provide scholarships to students whose institutions were ICUT Foundation members. Each scholarship is awarded to a need-based student whose background reflects one or more of the components in the target population of top priority to the PACCAR Foundation and to CIC’s First Opportunity Partners program.
“ETBU is grateful to be a member institution benefiting from the educational support of PACCAR, UPS, ICUT, and CIC,” ETBU President J. Blair Blackburn said. “Through our shared mission to provide every type of student with an affordable avenue to earn a quality education, students across Texas are being equipped and empowered to pursue their aspirations.”
The ICUT Foundation collaborates with institutional members, businesses, and relevant stakeholders to raise funds to develop and implement innovative programs and administer privately funded scholarship opportunities for students attending Texas independent colleges and universities, especially underserved student populations.
“Our aim and commitment is to send students into the workforce, ready to shape their communities and encourage future generations,” ETBU Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Thomas Sanders commented. “Partnerships like this are key to providing needed scholarly support to students and improving the economic development of our region through educated, equipped, and engaged graduates.”
The Council of Independent Colleges is an association of nonprofit independent colleges and universities that has worked since 1956 to support college and university leadership, advance institutional excellence, and enhance public understanding of private higher education’s contributions to society. CIC also provides support to state associations that organize programs and generate contributions for their member colleges and universities, including the ICUT Foundation. For more information, visit www.cic.edu.