STLCC Students Get Financial Lift through PepsiCo Foundation Grant

The PepsiCo Uplift Scholarship program supports Black and Hispanic students pursuing two-year degrees and professional certificates in fields of study related to advanced manufacturing, business administration, information technology and transportation. In addition to financial assistance, students have access to dedicated staff members and various resources to help assist in the pursuit of their education. 

Earlier this year, St. Louis Community College and the PepsiCo Foundation announced the launch of the Uplift Scholarship program. Representatives from PepsiCo recently presented the STLCC Foundation with a $500,000 grant to initiate the program.

Some of STLCC’s students who have received the PepsiCo Uplift Scholarship participated in the ceremonial check presentation at the STLCC Foundation Board of Directors meeting in October. In the accompanying photo, the students are, seated from left, Eric Coleman, Jessica Ackers, Sheri Carthan, Christopher Jones and Ora Dixon-Lee.

Also pictured in the back row, from left, are PepsiCo representatives Tiffany Harvey Horton, Hattie Washington, Nathan Baker and Scott Connelly; Marilyn Bush, St. Louis market president for Bank of America Merrill Lynch who also is the STLCC Foundation board president; Jeff L. Pittman, STLCC chancellor; Vanyah Moore, PepsiCo Uplift Scholarship program coordinator; and Paul Thompson, PepsiCo large format sales manager who also is a member of the STLCC Foundation board.

Scholarship recipients shared how the award has impacted their education.

• Daniel Isaiah Watson: “The PepsiCo Scholarship has lifted the financial burden of me having to pay out of pocket, allowing me to fully focus on my class and getting ready to join the workforce with the skills I have obtained.”
• Lamonte Harris: “It has allowed me to focus on class instead of all the hardships that come with life and the obstacles that were brought forth.”
• Sheri Carthan: “Initially I had to withdraw from classes because I had no money to pay for them. It is only because of the PepsiCo Scholarship that I’m able to attend college.”
• Darwin A. Watson: “Due to health and economic difficulties, the PepsiCo Uplift Scholarship was very beneficial in helping me pay for my classes and other expenses associated with attending college.”

The PepsiCo Uplift Scholarship awards students $2,000 per academic school year, which is divided $1,000 per semester.

To learn more about the program or to apply for the scholarships, visit stlcc.edu/scholarships or contact Vanyah Moore at vmoore89@stlcc.edu or 314-644-9016.