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72 years later: United Negro College Fund continues to close college funding gap for minorities

Michael Lomax, president of the United Negro College Fund.
Kelly Moffitt | St. Louis Public Radio
Michael Lomax, president of the United Negro College Fund.

The United Negro College Fund (UNCF) was started in 1944 by William Trent, Frederick D. Patterson and Mary McLeod Bethune. It was created to help raise funds for scholarships for 37 private historically black colleges and universities.

Now, funding has expanded for scholarships to non-HBCUs. The group predominantly provides scholarships to African American students, but also extends funding to other minorities as well.

"We believe that it is in the interest of our nation to educate as many low-income, first-generation students as we can,” said Michael Lomax, Ph.D, the organization’s president and CEO on Tuesday’s St. Louis on the Air.

As federal funding dwindles and the price of college skyrockets, the UNCF’s work is more important than ever. As Lomax pointed out, Pell Grants now only cover about 30 percent of the college price tag.  

Over the past 72 years, the organization has raised $4.5 billion and aided over 400,000 students in attending college.

McFarlane Duncan, area development director for UNCF in Missouri and Kansas.
Credit Kelly Moffitt | St. Louis Public Radio
McFarlane Duncan, area development director for UNCF in Missouri and Kansas.

Last year, UNCF awarded 55 St. Louis-area students with scholarships, said McFarlane Duncan, area development director for UNCF in Missouri and Kansas. 

Funding is one of the largest factors in determining if students of color are able to complete their degrees, Lomax said. He also said that there needs to be an increase in Pell Grant funding for low-income students, more reasonable interest rate programs for student loans and an atmosphere on campuses that ensure first-generation college students get interpersonal support to continue through the higher education system.

UNCF turns down nine highly-qualified applicants for every student they give a scholarship to, Lomax said.

Listen to Lomax and Duncan discuss the issues facing UNCF today:

St. Louis on the Air brings you the stories of St. Louis and the people who live, work and create in our region. St. Louis on the Air host Don Marsh and producers Mary Edwards, Alex Heuer and Kelly Moffitt give you the information you need to make informed decisions and stay in touch with our diverse and vibrant St. Louis region. 

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Kelly Moffitt joined St. Louis Public Radio in 2015 as an online producer for St. Louis Public Radio's talk shows St. Louis on the Air.