Ivy Tech Community College and The PepsiCo Foundation announced the launch of the Uplift Scholarship program to support Black and Hispanic students pursuing two-year degrees and professional certificate programs. In addition to financial assistance, the program will provide students with dedicated success coaches, access to emergency grants, and financial literacy courses.

The partnership announced at Ivy Tech’s Spirit of Diversity Awards dinner this evening will support 52 Black, Latino and Hispanic students studying Information Technology and Advanced Manufacturing, enabling them to pursue high-demand careers.  

“Ivy Tech is proud to partner with PepsiCo for the Uplift Scholarship program,” said Sue Ellspermann, President of Ivy Tech. “We appreciate PepsiCo’s commitment to helping minority students with financial need opportunities to complete credentials in high-wage, high-demand fields and address Indiana’s workforce demand.”

The Uplift Scholarship program is part of The PepsiCo Foundation’s $40 million commitment to address historical barriers that make it challenging for minority students to enroll, persist, and graduate from college – barriers that have widened during the pandemic. The Foundation’s Uplift Scholarship is currently offered at 20 community colleges across the country to provide 4,000 scholarships over five years.

“Higher education is the single most important tool we have for addressing economic and opportunity inequality. But just entering college is not enough,” said C.D. Glin, Global Head of Philanthropy, PepsiCo & Vice President, The PepsiCo Foundation. “Through the Uplift scholarship, The PepsiCo Foundation and Ivy Tech are working to ensure Black and Hispanic students have a chance to get into college and have access to critical resources to secure their diplomas and embark on meaningful careers.”

To be eligible for the Uplift Scholarship, students must be either Black, Latino or Hispanic, new first-time Ivy Tech students, enrolled at least half-time (6 credits), possess a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher, have a current FAFSA on file, have financial need, be seeking a credential/degree in Information Technology or Advanced Manufacturing.

Ivy Tech received $400,000 in scholarship funds for the Uplift Scholarship program and has distributed over $100,000 so far to students at Ivy Tech’s Indianapolis, South Bend/Elkhart, and Marion campuses.

Ivy Tech is committed to reducing the racial equity gaps in enrollment, persistence, and completion. This aligns with PepsiCo Foundation’s Racial Equality Journey by closing wealth gaps by providing access to higher education for Black and Hispanic students, enabling them to acquire jobs in high-growth and high-wage fields.