Five alumni of North Carolina Central University (NCCU) have established the American Veterans Endowed Scholarship, to support students from military families. They are retired Captain Dimitrus Culbreath ‘84, retired Lieutenant Colonel Barry Davis ‘84, retired Colonel Dallis Barnes ‘83, retired Colonel Walter Thomas II ‘87 and retired Lieutenant Colonel Wilbert Bryant ’86. The scholarship will provide ongoing financial assistance to Eagles who exemplify the values of leadership, integrity, and service.
The endowment, which will be fully funded at $25,000 over five years, recognizes the strength, resilience and dedication of students connected to the U.S. Armed Forces and ensures that financial barriers do not hinder their academic success.
“The idea was born from a conversation between the five of us, all NCCU alumni and military veterans,” said Bryant, who served 20 years in the U.S. Army. “We realized that while we took different paths after NCCU, our shared experiences, both at the university and in service, shaped us profoundly. We wanted to honor that bond and pay it forward to the next generation of Eagles with military connections.”
Culbreath, who served 30 years as a director and regulatory compliance officer in the United States Public Health Service, said, “It is always better to give someone the opportunity to improve themselves and their surroundings than to turn your back on someone in need.” Barnes, who served 33 years in the U.S. Army, said, “Hard work, dedication and pillars of support are the cornerstones of tomorrow for our youth.”
“Perseverance is key. I am the eighth of nine siblings, from enlisted to commissioned officer, the first to enlist in the military and first-generation college graduate” said Davis who served 33 years of enlisted and commissioned service in the U.S. Army.
“The endowment scholarship is an excellent opportunity to support our university and its student body while paying homage to the honorable service and sacrifice of all military veterans,” said Thomas II, who served 27 years in the U.S. Army
The American Veterans Endowed Scholarship stands as a testament to the enduring bond between military service and the NCCU community.
For more information about the American Veterans Endowed Scholarship and how to support endowed funds at NCCU, please visit www.nccu.edu/giving.