UMO Receives $100,000 Grant from Lettie Pate Whitehead Foundation

March 6, 2025

Contact:  Rhonda Jessup, Director of Public Relations

MOUNT OLIVE, NC—The University of Mount Olive (UMO) has received a $100,000 grant from the Lettie Pate Whitehead Foundation, Inc.  The grant will fund general undergraduate scholarships for the 2025-26 academic year. Since 2018, the Foundation has supported UMO financially, enabling scholarships for Christian women pursuing higher education.

Over the years, more than 105 UMO female students have benefited from the Lettie Pate Whitehead scholarship fund, with 25 students recognized as scholars for the current academic year.  The recipients come from North Carolina, South Carolina, and Florida and represent various academic disciplines, including education, agribusiness, recreation and leisure studies, veterinary bioscience, psychology, and nursing.

Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs and Lettie Pate Whitehead Advisor Dr. Kimberly Bryant stated, “This generous grant from the Lettie Pate Whitehead Foundation has been instrumental in helping our students achieve their academic and career goals. The financial support provides much-needed relief for many of our scholars, allowing them to focus on their studies and future aspirations. We are incredibly grateful for the Foundation’s continued commitment to supporting our students.”

“UMO’s ongoing partnership with the Lettie Pate Whitehead Foundation continues to create valuable opportunities for female students, empowering them to pursue higher education and meaningful careers,” said Vice President for University Advancement Dr. Twyla Wells. “With the increased grant amount for the upcoming academic year, even more students will have the opportunity to benefit from this vital financial assistance.”

The University of Mount Olive is a private institution rooted in the liberal arts tradition with defining Christian values. The University was founded by the Convention of Original Free Will Baptists. For more information, visit www.umo.edu.