Cultivating High Achieving Motivated Professionals and Scholars (CHAMPS) is an innovative and progressive program committed to extending educational opportunities and research experiences for talented undergraduate students interested in pursing graduate degrees. CHAMPS is a partnership between North Carolina State University (NCSU) and the UNCF Institute for Capacity Building. The initiative selects competitive and highly motivated scholars with leadership potential to participate in a comprehensive recruitment visitation program at NCSU. Currently, the initiative recruits students from three UNCF-member institutions—Claflin University, Fisk University and Xavier University.
CHAMPS provides students an opportunity to visit NCSU with all expenses paid to learn about graduate programs, interact with world-class faculty, visit state-of-the-art research facilities and laboratories, and to be exposed to research opportunities, and learn successful tips on how to navigate the graduate application process.
To participate students must have:
- Strong academic profiles
- An ability to establish and achieve work objectives
- Excellent communication and teamwork skills
- Energy and enthusiasm
- A desire to contribute to the body of knowledge in their respective disciplines
Program qualifications:
- Be sophomores, juniors, or nongraduating seniors in college at the participating UNCF institutions (Claflin, Fisk or Xavier)
- Have an interest in a graduate program offered at NC State University
- Have at least a 3.2 GPA
- Show motivation to pursue a graduate degree