Scholarship recipient fulfilling lifelong dream

Sep 26, 2016

Lowe’s-funded UNCF emergency scholarship propels students to overcome financial setbacks and excel

 Editor’s note: Open House contributor Emily Borrello worked as a Corporate Communications intern for Lowe’s this summer.

When Elaine Cadichon crossed the stage to collect her bachelor’s degree, she was one step closer to pursuing a career in social work and eventually opening a nonprofit organization focused on education in Haiti, where as a child she’d lived for seven years.

Her mother’s lifelong dedication to social work inspired Cadichon to follow a similar path, but just a few semester hours shy of earning her undergraduate degree, a personal financial crisis threatened to derail her dreams.

Cadichon excelled academically at Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, North Carolina, while serving as Student Government Association president, resident assistant for two years and a member of multiple student organizations. Suddenly and through no fault of her own, having enough money to pay for her senior-year tuition stood between her and her degree.

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That’s when Cadichon’s academic adviser encouraged her to apply for the United Negro College Fund’s (UNCF) emergency student aid. UNCF launched the Campaign for Emergency Student Aid in 2009 to provide just-in-time aid to successful, but financially needy graduating seniors at risk of interrupting their studies and delaying their graduation due to unpaid tuition balances, textbook or housing fees.

Since the inception of the UNCF emergency scholarship campaign, Lowe’s has contributed more than $4.25 million to the program. That’s enough to help more than 1,500 students at UNCF’s 37-member historically black colleges and universities graduate on time.

“We believe education is the foundation to building bright futures, inspiring leaders and stronger communities,” said James Frison, Lowe’s community relations director. “Students receiving support through UNCF can graduate and start a journey that will leave a positive and lasting impact. We are looking forward to supporting and inspiring even more future leaders by helping to make education a reality.”

Since the inception of the UNCF emergency scholarship campaign, Lowe’s has contributed more than $4.25 million to the program. That’s enough to help more than 1,500 students at UNCF’s 37-member historically black colleges and universities graduate on time.

Cadichon, who’s from Queens, New York, said the scholarship she received alleviated many of her financial worries, allowing her to concentrate on her studies and graduate on time with her peers.

She’s continuing the path toward her goal of a career in social work. To gain the expertise necessary for her to excel in the field, Cadichon is now studying for a master’s degree at Johnson C. Smith. Between classes, she volunteers at a group home and nonprofit for underprivileged youth in Charlotte.

Cadichon has encouraging words for students going through similar struggles: “Believe in yourself. Be humble, faithful, and persistent and claim your victories.”

“The scholarship saved me,” she said. “I don’t know what I would’ve done senior year without it.”