Bert Combs Scholarship opportunity featured during UC live chat

Kentucky students interested in hearing how they can fill the financial gap between their tuition costs and the grants or loans they’ve already received are invited to join a live chat hosted by University of the Cumberlands (UC).

The chat will be held at chat.ucumberlands.edu at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 27th. During the chat, prospective students and parents are encouraged to ask questions regarding Cumberlands’ financial aid packages. UC’s Bert T. Combs Scholarship, which is designed to help Kentucky students meet full-tuition costs, will also be discussed during the event.

University of the Cumberlands offers its Bert T. Combs (BTC) Scholarship to all Kentucky residents who qualify. The grant makes up the difference between federal, state, KEES, and merit monies.

“We work with all of our students that qualify to ensure they have the most complete financial aid package possible,” said Larry Rector, director of financial aid at Cumberlands. “The BTC Scholarship is something we offer to students that can really make a difference in their financial award. It can set UC apart from other institutions in their award packages.”

To qualify for the Bert T. Combs Scholarship, students must have an ACT score of 18 or higher; a cumulative high school GPA of at least 2.75; apply for and receive the Federal Pell Grant, the KTG and CAP grants, and the KEES; have an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) of $2,000 or less; and be a Kentucky resident.

“The scholarship was a lifesaver for someone like me, who comes from a lower socioeconomic status,” said Adriana Roaden, a junior from Corbin studying psychology. “It has provided a way for me to further my education without the stress of how much it costs.”

Kentucky residents are encouraged to apply for the FAFSA as soon as possible, to increase their chances of receiving aid from the program. To apply, visit https://fafsa.gov.

The scholarship is in honor of Bert T. Combs, who arrived at Cumberlands in 1929 with no money and no job. He approached Cumberlands’ president James Creech, who secured a job for Combs stoking furnaces on campus in return for financial aid. Combs excelled in academics, and achieved a successful career in law following his graduation from college. He went on to become governor of Kentucky from 1959-1963, and is commonly credited with the construction of I-75 through the commonwealth. The Bert T. Combs scholarship seeks to honor his legacy of excellence, dedication, and benevolence.

“The Bert T. Combs scholarship has been a HUGE key to my college experience,” said Skyler Downs, a junior from Ledbetter studying communication arts. “College is expensive, and I’ve worked for most of what I have. My parents help me the best they can, so this scholarship is a blessing, as it has covered a lot of what I couldn’t.”

Located in Williamsburg, Kentucky, University of the Cumberlands is an institution of regional distinction offering quality undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, and online degree programs. Learn more at ucumberlands.edu.