The offer of admission from the University of North Carolina was wonderful, of course, but it was the letter from the financial aid office that made all the difference for Canada Steele. Her mother, Lori Brown, a single parent of seven in Hickory, calls it ââ?¬Å?a blessing.ââ?¬Â Steele, 18, her oldest, calls it ââ?¬Å?a miracle.ââ?¬Â The miracle’s name is the Carolina Covenant, a UNC program that promises low-income students such as Steele that their college costs are paid off and they can graduate debt-free. Now in its third year, the Covenant serves about 950 students and has become a model for other public universities.
Office of Strategic Communication