Name: Marian Spencer Scholarship Program
Start: 2026-03-02T00:00:00-0500
End: 2026-04-15T12:00:00-0400
Location: UC Day of Giving

Marian Spencer Scholarship Program

The Marian Spencer Scholarship: Igniting the fearless pioneer in our CPS students

University of Cincinnati is proud to partner with Cincinnati Public Schools to offer the Marian Spencer Scholarship Program, specifically reserved for CPS students in the top 10% of their senior class.

The scholarship program includes:

Full cost of attendance (tuition, room and board, books)
Additional support for study abroad, co-op, summer opportunities
Residential community in Marian Spencer Hall
Enhanced advising support, student success resources and career coaching
Study abroad service trip
Networking and mentoring opportunities with UC's President, other university leaders, and City of Cincinnati leaders
Service projects with CPS students

The Spencer Scholars are honored to carry forward the powerful legacy of Mrs. Marian Spencer and feel proud to embody her spirit of leadership, courage, and advocacy. Marian Spencer’s fight for equality began early—while she was a University of Cincinnati student campaigning for an inclusive prom that welcomed all students. Her commitment to justice remained deeply personal throughout her life. When her two young sons were denied admittance to Coney Island Amusement Park, she led the legal action that ultimately desegregated the park.

Above all, Marian Spencer’s lifelong dedication to education, civil rights, and racial justice continues to inspire the fearlessness, integrity, and moral clarity that guide our scholars today. As torchbearers of her legacy, the Spencer Scholars strive to uplift her values through their leadership, service, and unwavering commitment to creating a more just and equitable world.

UC and UC Health employees can give via payroll deduction today.

Event

Bearcats in the USA Challenge

The first donor in each state will win an additional $50 for the fund they supported.

Event

First-Time Donor Challenge (Tuesday noon to midnight)

Every first-time donor who makes a gift on April 14 will be placed in a drawing. The winner will be awarded an additional $500 to the fund they supported and a UC swag item.

Event

Young Alumni Challenge (Tuesday noon to midnight)

Alumni that graduated between 2015 and 2025 who make a gift on April 14 will be placed in a drawing. The winner will be awarded an additional $500 to the fund they supported and a UC swag item.

Event

Tag a Bearcat Challenge

Tag your Bearcat bestie that should make a gift in honor of UC Day of Giving! To participate in challenge, tag @uofcincyalumni and include #BearcatsGive in your comment. The more Bearcats you tag, the more chances you have to win. We’ll randomly pick one winner to receive $500 to the fund of their choice and a UC gift basket!

Event

1819 Challenge

The 1,819 gift will receive an additional $500 to that fund.

Leaderboard

Kickoff Challenge (Tuesday 12-2 p.m.)

The fund that receives the most gifts in the first tow hours of UC Day of Giving will receive an additional $1,000.

Fund Designation (159)

Leaderboard

Bearcat for Life Challenge (Tuesday 2-3 p.m.)

The fund that receives the most alumni gifts during this hour will receive an additional $1,000.

Fund Designation (159)

Leaderboard

Boldly Bearcat Challenge (Tuesday 5-6 p.m.)

The fund that receives the most dollars during this hour will receive an additional $1,000.

Fund Designation (159)

Event

Down the Drive Ambassador Challenge (Tuesday 9-11 p.m.)

The ambassador with the most gifts attributed to their personal referral link between 9-11 p.m. wins $200 additional dollars to the fund of their choice. *Ambassador must have at least 5 gifts tied to their personal referral link in the timeframe to win. Ambassadors can only win once.

Event

Skyline Challenge (Wednesday 8-10 a.m.)

Every donor who makes a gift in this period will be placed in a drawing. The winner will receive an additional $500 to the fund they supported and a $100 gift card to skyline.

Leaderboard

The Final Countdown Challenge (Wednesday 10 a.m.-noon)

The fund that receives the most gifts during the last two hours will receive an additional $1,000.

Fund Designation (159)

Event

Last Gift Challenge

The last donor to make a gift on UC Day of Giving will win an additional $500 for the fund they supported.

Event

Alumni Couple Challenge (Tuesday noon to midnight)

UC alumni couples who make a gift on April 14 will be placed in a drawing. The winner will be awarded an additional $500 to the fund they supported and a UC swag item.

$750

Parents Challenge

When 100 parents make a gift, $750 is unlocked to the University of Cincinnati Student Emergency Fund.

100 Gift Goal

Event

#BearcatsGive Challenge

We'll randomly pick one winner who uses #BearcatsGive and give $500 to the fund of their choice.

Event

Save the Date Challenge

Help us spread the word about Day of Giving! Share the 2026 UC Day of Giving video on your organization’s or college’s social media channels to be entered in a drawing. Each post is one entry and the UC Alumni Association must be tagged at @uofcincyalumni. The winner will receive an additional $500 to the fund of their choice. Find the video at dayofgiving.uc.edu

Event

First Gift Challenge (Tuesday 12 p.m.)

The first donor to make a gift on UC Day of Giving will win an additional $500 for the fund they supported

Event

Down the Drive Ambassador Challenge (Tuesday 12-2 p.m.)

The ambassador with the most gifts attributed to their personal referral link between 12-2 p.m. wins $200 additional dollars to the fund of their choice. *Ambassador must have at least 5 gifts tied to their personal referral link in the timeframe to win. Ambassadors can only win once.

Event

Down the Drive Ambassador Challenge (Tuesday 3-5 p.m.)

The ambassador with the most gifts attributed to their personal referral link between 3-5 p.m. wins $200 additional dollars to the fund of their choice. *Ambassador must have at least 5 gifts tied to their personal referral link in the timeframe to win. Ambassadors can only win once.

Event

Down the Drive Ambassador Challenge (Tuesday 6-8 p.m.)

The ambassador with the most gifts attributed to their personal referral link 6-8 p.m. wins $200 additional dollars to the fund of their choice. *Ambassador must have at least 5 gifts tied to their personal referral link in the timeframe to win. Ambassadors can only win once.

Leaderboard

All-Nighter Challenge (Tuesday 10 p.m.-Wednesday 7 a.m.)

The fund that receives the most gifts overnight will receive an additional $1,000

Fund Designation (159)

Event

Down the Drive Ambassador Challenge (Wednesday 8-10 a.m.)

The ambassador with the most gifts attributed to their personal referral link 8-10 a.m. wins $200 additional dollars to the fund of their choice. *Ambassador must have at least 5 gifts tied to their personal referral link in the timeframe to win. Ambassadors can only win once.

Event

Down the Drive Ambassador Challenge (Wednesday 10 a.m.-noon)

The ambassador with the most gifts attributed to their personal referral link between 10 a.m. to noon wins $200 additional dollars to the fund of their choice. *Ambassador must have at least 5 gifts tied to their personal referral link in the timeframe to win. Ambassadors can only win once.

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