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GAA Scholarships Make a Difference

Your General Alumni Association serves Carolina’s students — past, present and future. These scholarships are supported by the GAA and our members:

• Carolina Clubs across the country have supported scholarships since 1994, with more than $800,000 awarded to 816 recipients.

• The Light on the Hill Society Scholarship honors Carolina’s Black graduates of the 1950s and 1960s by providing scholarships to current first-year African American students. Since 2005, the program has raised more than $2.1 million and has awarded 112 scholarships: 82 Light on the Hill Society scholars, 26 Peppers scholars, 2 High Undergraduate scholars, the first High Graduate scholar and 2 Theta Omicron Foundation Black Male Excellence awards.

• The GAA Scholars program, established in 2001, and the Douglas S. Dibbert ’70 Scholars program, established in 2007, have provided more than $600,000. In academic year 2022–23, 16 students were named GAA Scholars and 4 students were awarded Dibbert Scholarships. We have also honored 11 Saunders Scholars through our J. Maryon “Spike” Saunders ’25 Scholarship.

• The Lt. Col. Bernard W. Dibbert Carolina Covenant Scholarship for Military Families was established in 2019 with a $2 million commitment by the GAA. An additional $1 million commitment was made by Vaughn D. Bryson ’60, former GAA Board Chair, and Nancy Faison Bryson ’60, in early 2021. Since fall 2021, we’ve welcomed 12 Dibbert Covenant Scholars.

You can make a difference.

Carolina Alumni membership dues help support a wide variety student programs on campus. But before our aspiring students arrive, most need to put together a plan to pay for their education. Your tax-deductible gift toward a scholarship of your choice can make a significant impact on what is a crucial deciding factor for many when considering Carolina.

Your gift can support a student from your community or complement an area of more personal interest. Scholarships include:

Carolina Club Scholarships

Many GAA-sponsored Carolina Clubs have established local scholarships to support Carolina students from their areas.

Special gift instructions: After clicking on the “Make a Gift” button, the first box on the next screen will feature a dropdown with “General Alumni Association” listed by default. Click on this dropdown and select “Regional Scholarships.” The second dropdown will then prompt you with “Please select a fund.” Clicking on this dropdown will allow you to select a specific regional scholarship of your choice.

Make a Gift

Light on the Hill Society Scholarship

The GAA-supported Black Alumni Reunion created the Light on the Hill Society scholarship in 2005. This scholarship serves as a tribute to Carolina’s Black graduates of the 1950s and 60s by providing scholarships to current first-year Black students. In 2023, a graduate award was added.

Scholars are selected by the Light on the Hill Society advisory board through an application process.

Make a Gift

Other GAA-Supported Scholarships

    • GAA Scholars
    • Dibbert Scholars
    • J. Maryon “Spike” Saunders Scholarship
    • Lt. Col. Bernard W. Dibbert Carolina Covenant Scholarship for Military Families

Make a Gift

Additional scholarship opportunities offered through the Office Scholarships and Student Aid.

Point of Contact

Steve Shaw '82
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
919-962-3599
read my bio

Steve has served as director of finance and administration since 2001. Carolina blue runs deep in his family – his wife and twin children graduated from UNC. When he isn’t following numbers, Steve is following the Tar Heels football and basketball teams dominating on the field and court. Steve stays active with golf, tennis and lounging on the beach (partially active).