November 21, 2025
Two East Texas Baptist University seniors, Dominick Williams and Mackenzie Lawrence, 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).
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.
Williams, a business administration major from Houston, Texas, receive a CIC/UPS scholarship while and Lawrence, a nursing major from Sour Lake, Texas, was awarded the PACCAR scholarship.
“We celebrate the incredible partnership we share with PACCAR, UPS, and CIC, whose support enriches both the academic and spiritual journeys of our students,” ETBU President Dr. J. Blair Blackburn said. “Their continued investment transforms the futures of our students year after year. These scholarships advance our mission to provide a Christ-centered education that equips and empowers students to follow God’s calling on their lives.”
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.
“Receiving the CIC/UPS scholarship was a blessing for my family that we appreciate so much,” Williams said. “My mom works tirelessly to make sure I stay in school and with this scholarship it took a heavy weight off her shoulders. My family and I are beyond grateful for the scholarship”
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.
“Being selected as a PACCAR scholarship recipient is an incredible blessing, and I am sincerely and deeply grateful for their generosity,” Lawrence said. “It means more than I can express to have supporters who invest so willingly in students’ futures. I truly see this scholarship as God’s provision in my life, and it encourages me to keep pursuing the calling He has placed on my heart through nursing. I am extremely thankful for PACCAR’s kindness and support.”