Two East Texas Baptist University students receive ICUT Scholarships

Two East Texas Baptist University seniors, Ashly Quintanilla and Sevon Chambers, have been selected to receive scholarships provided by the Independent Colleges and Universities of Texas (ICUT) Foundation and its national partner, the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC).

Sevon Chambers, a senior kinesiology wellness-management major from Lawton, Oklahoma, was awarded with funding from the PACCAR Foundation, a private foundation that directs grants to United Way, universities, hospitals, and programs for the arts and education.

“This scholarship is a huge blessing to my family,” Chambers said. “It has paved the way for me to continue my education in the field of athletic training, which is very important to me. It means everything in the world to be able to further my knowledge in kinesiology. In addition to this, I will be able to focus on my studies as I prepare for graduating with my bachelor's degree in December.”

Since 1985, ICUT Foundation Members have received annual grants from the CIC State Funds Endowment to provide United Parcel Service (UPS) Scholarships to every private college and university in the State Fund network. This year, Ashly Quintanilla, was selected to receive support from the UPS Foundation. From Longview, Texas, Quintanilla is a senior studying Christian ministry at East Texas Baptist University.

“Because of this blessing, I am not only able to see God’s provision in my life, but I will also be aided in my pursuit of an education in ministry and literature,” Quintanilla said. “I am extremely grateful for the faculty and staff at ETBU for instilling spiritual ethics within every course as well as cultivating an environment for me to be involved in a Christ-centered community. The religion and English professors specifically have challenged me to never stop learning, and to share what I’ve learned. It is because of their wisdom and leadership that I have even made it this far in college, and been able to receive this scholarship.”

Nationally, CIC, through the CIC/UPS Educational Endowment, provided more than $2 million in student scholarships to make private colleges and universities more affordable and accessible to underserved students.

“On behalf of East Texas Baptist University, I am so thankful that our University is a member institution benefiting from the educational and financial support of PACCAR, UPS, ICUT, and CIC,” ETBU President Dr. J. Blair Blackburn said. “Each year, these scholarships have a significant impact on the lives of deserving students. Through our shared mission to provide every student with an affordable opportunity to earn a quality education, students across Texas are being equipped and empowered to pursue their aspirations through private colleges and universities.”

About the Council of Independent Colleges

The Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) is an association of nonprofit independent colleges and universities, as well as state-based councils and other higher education affiliates, that works to support college and university leadership, advance institutional excellence, and enhance public understanding of independent higher education’s contributions to society. CIC is the major national organization that focuses on services to leaders of independent colleges and universities and state-based councils, including the ICUT Foundation. CIC offers conferences, seminars, publications, and other programs and services that help institutions improve educational quality, administrative and financial performance, student outcomes, and institutional visibility. It conducts the largest annual conferences of college and university presidents and of chief academic officers. Founded in 1956, CIC is headquartered at One Dupont Circle in Washington, DC. www.cic.edu

About The UPS Foundation

Established in 1951 and based in Atlanta, Georgia, the UPS Foundation identifies areas where its backing clearly impacts social issues. In support of this strategic approach, the UPS Foundation has identified the following focus areas for giving: volunteerism, diversity, community safety, and the environment. In 2017, UPS and its employees, active and retired, invested more than $118 million in charitable giving around the world. The UPS Foundation can be found on the web at UPS.com/foundation.

About the PACCAR Scholarship Program

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 ICUT Foundation members. The PACCAR Foundation can be found online at https://www.paccar.com/about-us/paccar-foundation/.