UC celebrates the Marian Spencer Scholarship Program with special induction ceremony

UC alumna Marian Spencer fought for fair access, inclusion and equity. Her legacy continues with a special scholarship program that bears her name.

“The Marian Spencer Scholarship Program is dedicated to empowering students with opportunities for higher education and personal growth,” explains Cindy Jones, director of the Marian Spencer Scholarship Program.

Jones was among the speakers at a special induction ceremony held this fall in Nippert West Pavilion and featured by WLWT as part of a recent news segment on the Marian Spencer Scholarship Program.

Spencer, a civil rights icon, was instrumental in desegregating Cincinnati’s Coney Island as well as Cincinnati Public Schools. She went on to become the first African American woman elected to Cincinnati City Council in 1983.

As a Black student in the late 1930s and early 1940s, Marian Spencer wasn't permitted to live in a dorm on UC’s campus. Today, there is a residence hall that bears her name, opened in 2018. The Marian Spencer Scholars form a living-learning community housed together in the residence hall for their first year.

“Your participation in the induction ceremony exemplifies the spirit of support and mentorship that is at the heart of our mission,” Jones continues. “Your commitment sends a powerful message to our scholars: their dreams are worth pursuing, and they have a community of caring individuals backing them every step of the way.”

The Marian Spencer Scholarship was first announced in fall 2021 and was made possible by a large donation by 1988 graduate Jim Goetz and university investment. The scholarship is for high-achieving Cincinnati Public School graduates and includes full tuition, room and board, a service abroad trip to Tanzania and many more opportunities.

UC now has 30 students who are part of the scholarship program.

“We see you as the future leaders of this city,” says Jack Miner, vice provost of enrollment management. “This isn’t just an investment in these kids, it’s an investment in these kids because it is an investment in our future.”

Listen to the segment on WLWT online.

Featured top image of UC student Muslim Khzir at the podium during a recent induction ceremony for the Marian Spencer Scholarship Program. Photo provided.