UNCF Etta Gray Memorial Scholarship Program
Offered by UNCF (United Negro College Fund)
About This Scholarship
The Etta Gray Memorial Scholarship Program, administered by UNCF, honors the memory of Etta Gray, a caregiver for the William Hipp family, and puts money behind a practical idea: technical certifications are one of the fastest routes to higher income for financially disadvantaged young people. Selected students receive a one-time, need-based award of up to $5,000 in fall 2026.
The program serves students with a permanent residence in Upstate South Carolina who are pursuing a technical certification in information technology and related fields — Microsoft, Oracle, Cisco, Java, network administration, computer technology, information systems, and PC programming among them — at any technical, two-year, or four-year college or university in Upstate South Carolina. The program page names Tri-County Technical College, Greenville Technical College, Piedmont Technical College, Northeastern Technical College, and Spartanburg Community College as examples of eligible two-year schools.
Applicants need a cumulative 2.5 GPA or better, a completed FAFSA showing unmet financial need, validation of progress toward the certificate, a current transcript, and an essay covering their personal statement and future career interest. For a directory dominated by bachelor's-degree awards, this is a rare dedicated fund for certificate-track students.
Eligibility
- Permanent residence in Upstate South Carolina
- Pursuing a technical certification in IT or related fields (Microsoft, Oracle, Cisco, Java, networking, information systems, and similar) at a technical, two-year, or four-year college in Upstate South Carolina
- Cumulative GPA of 2.5 or better on a 4.0 scale
- FAFSA completed with unmet financial need verified by your financial aid office
- U.S. citizen, national, or permanent resident
How To Apply
- Register on the UNCF opportunities portal at opportunities.uncf.org (first-time applicants must complete registration before applying)
- Complete the Etta Gray Memorial Scholarship online application
- Provide validation of progress toward completion of your certificate
- Upload a current transcript and your essay (personal statement and future career interest)
- Submit by October 30, 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as Upstate South Carolina?
You need a permanent residence in the Upstate region and must attend a technical, two-year, or four-year school there. Named examples include Tri-County Technical, Greenville Technical, Piedmont Technical, Northeastern Technical, and Spartanburg Community College.
Do I have to be in a degree program?
No — the program is built for technical certification students. You must be pursuing an IT-related certification and show validated progress toward completing it.
How much is the award?
Selected students receive a one-time, need-based award of up to $5,000, disbursed in fall 2026.