A report by Rachel Keith of WHQR Public Media in Wilmington, North Carolina, says a longtime University of North Carolina Wilmington donor plans to move a scholarship endowment valued at approximately $1 million to Washington, D.C., HBCU Howard University, following changes tied to the UNC System’s diversity policies.
Linda Upperman Smith, whose family established the scholarship in honor of her father, the late Dr. Leroy Upperman, said the family intends to transfer the endowment rather than remove language that reflected the scholarship’s original purpose of supporting African American students.
According to WHQR’s reporting, university officials informed the family that the scholarship language would need to be revised to comply with the University of North Carolina System’s updated Equality Within the University of North Carolina policy.
Rather than alter her father’s wishes, Upperman Smith said the family decided to move the scholarship to Howard University, where Dr. Upperman earned his medical degree.
“My father wanted to leave something that would reflect the Upperman name as well as do something to give back to the community that had supported him over the years,” Upperman Smith told WHQR.
The endowment is valued at approximately $1 million and currently generates about $40,000 annually in scholarship funding.
Why the scholarship is being moved
The scholarship was originally created to honor Dr. Leroy Upperman, who became one of the first Black physicians to practice in Wilmington after earning his medical degree from Howard University.
According to WHQR, university officials notified the family that language specifying African American recipients conflicted with the UNC System’s updated policies governing diversity, equity and inclusion.
Rather than revise the scholarship’s intent, the family elected to move the endowment.
Upperman Smith said transferring the scholarship allows her family to preserve the vision her father had when it was first established.
Howard University stands to benefit
If completed, the transfer would direct future scholarship funds to Howard University students instead of those attending UNCW.
Howard has long been one of the nation’s premier HBCU institutions and has educated generations of Black physicians, attorneys, educators and public servants. The university also played a pivotal role in Dr. Upperman’s education before he returned to Wilmington to serve his community.
The move would represent one of the more notable examples of philanthropic dollars shifting from a predominantly white institution to an HBCU amid changing policies surrounding race-conscious programs. The proposed transfer comes as universities across the country continue adjusting scholarship language and institutional policies following legal and political changes affecting diversity initiatives.
UNC System policy changes continue to have ripple effects
The UNC System adopted its Equality Within the University of North Carolina policy in 2024, replacing previous diversity, equity and inclusion guidelines. Since then, campuses have reviewed scholarships, hiring practices and other programs to ensure compliance with the new policy.
According to Rachel Keith’s reporting for WHQR Public Media, the Upperman family viewed moving the scholarship as the best way to preserve the donor’s original intent while continuing to support Black student achievement.
If finalized, Howard University would become the new home of the scholarship, ensuring Dr. Leroy Upperman’s legacy continues through future generations of students.
Result of Trump’s, not accepting diversity, as a US president, is shameful, has caused situations like this. So. I think the family of the scholarship funds, remembering Dr. Upperman, made a great decision.
Good!!!
NC has 11 hbcu….why send this money to Howard?
Now that’s integrity in action!
I am so proud and grateful to Dr. Uppermans family for doing this. Orange Satan be dawned. He’s trying but doesn’t own us yet and never will!
I’m pleased as a Howard University Alum.
If the University of North Carolina-Wilmington is concerned about the wording of the scholarship requirements violating EEO laws why would Howard University not have the same concerns if they plan to exclude anyone who is not black? Sounds like discrimination based on race and color to me.
Kudos to the Upperman family for standing their ground in honor of Dr. Upperman’s wishes!!! Job well done!!?
Well done!!
Great gesture on the part of Ms. Smith. Others need to follow. Those institutions who are bowing down to Trump and his racist policies need to feel the heat and the way to make them feel it is to hold the money away from them and support HBCUs.
This is ironic considering the history of violence and discrimination against Black people in Wilmington. As a Howard grad, GOOD.
Happy for Howard!????
Not an alumni, but have family and many friends who are proud graduates??
Much respect to the Upperman family for striving to uphold their loved one’s intent for the scholarship.
Cheers to the Uppermans!
I love seeing HBCU’S win. We don’t need PWI’s, all we need as black people really is to support our HBCU’S more. Because that’s what gonna help close the wealth gap. If we ? strengthen our HBCU’S, we can boost the academic achievements for future generations of black professionals and entrepreneurs. If we can boost the academic achievements of our young black professionals and entrepreneurs, we can empower our community more through home, land, and business ownership. We can increase the value of homes in our neighborhoods, build more successful black owned businesses in our neighborhoods, open more black owned banks and credit unions, invest for the future and make money grow over time, and improve the quality of life in black neighborhoods all over America on every level. Ha ve greater health outcomes, greater mental health and spiritual well-being, more successful and stable families, safer streets, and healthy functioning communities full of people leading healthy productive lives.
Great decision to continue intended legacy! Congratulations to the Family for their decision to honor their Father rather than the system that divides under the guise of unity!??????????
Good to see this money going to a premiere HBCU Medical School ??
Racial animosity and Whyte skin privileges continue on its destruction of America.
Who can love a country that hates some of its own people?