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Goodnight Scholars Program Announces First Transfer Class

For Immediate Release

North Carolina State University’s Goodnight Scholars Program revealed the 10 recipients for its historic transfer class of 2019.

The cohort represents seven North Carolina community colleges and six NC State majors. Recipients were selected from a pool of 20 finalists who participated in an extensive application and interview process which included evaluation from NC State faculty, staff and Goodnight Scholars Program alumni.

“Interviewing the transfer finalists was an inspiring and humbling experience,” said Allison Medlin, director of the Goodnight Scholars Program. “The 10 students selected are distinguished by both their talent and tenacity. With the education they receive at NC State, they are dedicated to benefiting not only their own lives, but the lives of their families and communities. We are thrilled to welcome them to the Goodnight Scholars community this fall!”

Bios of the Goodnight Scholars Program transfer class of 2019 are available.

NC State announced this January that the Goodnight Scholars Program would extend to high-achieving students with financial need who hail from North Carolina community colleges. The extension came at the request of the program’s founders, Ann and Jim Goodnight, who wished to have “a profound impact on the lives of transfer students for whom a bachelor’s degree may be out of reach.”

With the addition of transfer students, which will increase the total number of undergraduate Goodnight Scholars to 210 in fall 2017, the Goodnight Scholars Program is one of the first scholarship programs in the U.S. to offer a generous scholarship and comprehensive developmental programming catered toward transfer students attending a four-year public university.

The Goodnight Scholars Program was established in 2008 out of the philanthropic generosity of North Carolina natives and NC State alumni Jim Goodnight, co-founder of global business analytic software leader, SAS Institute, and Ann Goodnight, director of community relations at SAS Institute and secretary for the NC State Board of Trustees.

The Goodnight Scholars Program is targeted at North Carolina residents from low- and middle-income families who aspire to study in a science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM) or STEM education discipline at NC State. The value of the scholarship is $19,500 and is renewable for up to four years for first-year students and two years for transfer students. In addition to the scholarship, Goodnight Scholars have access to an assortment of developmental programming focused on their professional and personal growth.

The program has evolved into a comprehensive student development program focused on cultivating professional and personal skills for 210 current Goodnight Scholars through a series of programming initiatives. Scholars receive guidance from local and national STEM industry leaders and entrepreneurs; participate in professional development workshops; and engage in local, national, and international outreach efforts. These efforts include STEM education outreach to Triangle elementary schools, as well as service trips to the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. Each programming initiative sponsored by the Goodnight Scholars Program strives to develop critical skills and habits necessary for academic achievement; expose and educate students to current trends and advancement in the STEM and education industries; and establish strong personal and/or professional relationships with fellow Goodnight Scholars, NC State faculty/staff, NC State alumni, and STEM/education professionals.

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