Charlotte’s premier merit scholarship: The Levine Scholars Program
The Levine Scholars Program is Charlotte’s premier merit and most competitive academic scholarship. The program invites the brightest, most capable students to Charlotte and gives them the tools, resources and support needed to explore the world around them, engage deeply in their communities and excel across academic disciplines.
Twenty new Levine scholars are chosen each year and receive four-year scholarships that include full tuition, room, board, mandatory fees and a stipend for books. The program also provides funding for four transformational summer experiences focused on leadership development, a nonprofit internship, a pre-professional experience and education or work abroad.
Civic engagement is at the core of the program. Through a commitment to ongoing volunteerism, summer internships, monthly service hours and a grant to fund a collaborative civic engagement project, Levine Scholars graduate fully prepared to begin their next chapter as versatile intellects, thoughtful leaders and compassionate humanitarians. Scholars complete 800 hours of service combined each month, and the program has over 150 nonprofit partners.
In recent years, the program has added opportunities for scholars to engage in undergraduate research mentorships and supported opportunities to engage deeply with long-standing community partners such as Habitat for Humanity through monthly builds and an annual University-hosted playhouse construction event.
“The commitment and level of excellence Levine Scholars bring to their academic pursuits, leadership and civic engagement is impressive,” said Heather Smith, faculty director of the program. “These Charlotte students are excellent examples of how to do good, inspire others and make an impact on campus and beyond.”
Levine Scholars selection process
Levine Scholars are selected through a rigorous nomination and interview process, which includes an in-person finalist program where invited students and their families tour campus and meet current scholars, program staff, alumni and members of the faculty and University leadership. Last year, more than 100 Charlotte faculty and staff were involved in the selection process.
“We are very thankful for the support we receive from campus faculty and staff throughout our review process,” said Zack Newsome, associate director of the program. “The program relies on their expertise to ensure we are awarding the scholarship to the most qualified candidates.”
For the 2024-25 academic year, more than 2,400 scholarship nominations were submitted and nearly 1,100 applications completed and reviewed. The Levine Scholars from the class of 2028 come from eight states and 10 North Carolina counties.
History of the Levine Scholars Program
The Levine Scholars Program was established in 2009 through a $9.3 million gift from the late Leon Levine and his wife, Sandra, through their foundation, The Leon Levine Foundation. In 2014, the Levines made an additional $13 million gift, which increased the scholarship from 15 recipients to approximately 20 each year beginning with the class of 2016. The scholarship was last renewed in 2021.
Levine founded Family Dollar Stores Inc., retiring as chairman and CEO in 2003. The Levine family is involved in several civic and charitable causes in the Charlotte region and throughout the Carolinas through The Leon Levine Foundation.
Resources
- Meet the current Levine scholars
- Meet the Levine scholars staff
- Learn about Levine Scholars alumni
- Check out the Levine Scholars blog
Learn more about the Levine Scholars Program by visiting the program’s website.