SCHOLARSHIP FUNDING CHALLENGE
The Rams Club faces the challenge of funding all student-athlete scholarships at Carolina

The cost of educating Carolina’s student-athletes has grown exponentially in recent years. Scholarship costs have climbed to nearly $8.2 million – more than double the cost from 12 years ago. The need for upgraded facilities and program support add to our challenge.

The Rams Club helps support Carolina’s broad-based program of 28 varsity sports – offering scholarship assistance to more than 450 student-athletes each year. That level of support allows these student-athletes opportunities unique to any of their peers – the opportunities to compete at the highest level and to enjoy the student experience at North Carolina.

To provide such important opportunities requires incredible commitment from a generous group of donors. Rams Club members consistently meet the challenge to provide scholarships, facilities and other means of support. By meeting the challenge, Rams Club members allow Carolina to continue to be a leader in college athletics – and a model for how an athletics program should approach the student-athlete experience.

Funding A Comprehensive Program
As the challenge grows, the need for aggressive membership growth and additional support becomes more evident. UNC enjoys a healthy athletic scholarship endowment trust. The 5% yield from that trust, however, cannot keep pace with the climbing scholarship costs.

The Rams Club Annual Fund – made up of annual gifts from a large majority of members – covers this scholarship gap. By doing so, Rams Club members allow Carolina Athletics to maintain its broad-based program and its high level of success. Your support of the annual fund is critical to the future of Carolina Athletics and Tar Heel student-athletes.

Building the Base of Support
Carolina has always been a leader in college athletics. That role is defined through excellence shown on the field and in the classroom, and through the generosity of its supporters. Growth in membership is a primary goal of the Rams Club. Currently fourth among Atlantic Coast Conference members in the number of donors to athletics, the Rams Club seeks to become the leader in the conference. The Rams Club needs your support and the support of all Tar Heel fans to meet the scholarship funding challenge.

For more information on how to make an immediate impact on the experience of today's student-athletes, click here. For questions or more information on The Scholarship Endowment Trust, contact Sue Walsh at 919.843.6413 or swalsh@uncaa.unc.edu.