Cousins Foundation gives UGA $5 million for needs-based scholarships
A prominent philanthropic organization has agreed to donate $5 million to the University of Georgia that will be used for needs-based scholarships and for its swim and diving coach position.
The Cousins Foundation made the gift to UGA, the university announced Thursday.
The money will be awarded to 24 service-minded students who demonstrate significant financial need. The four-year program will welcome six new students each year, with the first cohort beginning in fall 2019.
“This significant gift will transform the lives of so many UGA students - and their families - for generations into the future, and I am deeply grateful for the foundation’s tremendous generosity,” UGA President Jere Morehead said in a statement.
The UGA Foundation will give $500,000 through the Georgia Commitment Scholarship Program to increase the number of need-based scholarships available at UGA.
A gift to the UGA Athletic Association will endow the swimming and diving head coach position in honor of Ann and Tom Cousins, founders of the foundation. Tom Cousins was a UGA letterman in swimming in 1950 and 1951.
In other Education news:
About the Author
Eric Stirgus joined The Atlanta Journal-Constitution in 2001. He is the newsroom's education editor. Born and raised in Brooklyn, N.Y., Eric is active in the Atlanta Association of Black Journalists and the Education Writers Association and enjoys mentoring aspiring journalists.
