Friends of UNCW

The Friends of UNCW is a volunteer organization that formed in December 1963 to help Wilmington College (now UNCW) increase the library's holdings from 11,000 to 50,000 volumes — a minimum requirement at the time for accreditation as a four-year institution. The Friends have been steadfast UNCW supporters for more than 50 years.

The organization's current contributions include supporting a merit scholarship and annually funding special projects based on proposals from UNCW faculty and staff.

Elizabeth Dunn Friends of UNCW

My job on these boards is to be a part of keeping the university vibrant, and on the map.

resources

Current Members

Officers

Koula Katsikis

President

Allison Graham

Vice President

Janine Powell '88

Treasurer

Happy Clark

Secretary

Louise Gorham ’59

Honorary Life Member

Board of Directors

Cynthia Boylan

Virginia Callaway

Mary Coble ’80

Kathey Craig

Elizabeth Dunn

Amber Harris '04

Brenda Harriss ’85

Alicia Keith

Karen King '94

Heidi Lee '98

Meredith Lewis

Linda Miles

Kelli Queen '04

Helen Wells

Beth Woodruff

To speak with someone about the Friends of UNCW, contact:

Chelsea Nelson
Special Events Coordinator
Friends of UNCW Liaison
(910) 962.2214
nelsonc@uncw.edu

Grants Awarded

Each year, the Friends of UNCW awards grants from the support that they have raised. View some examples of the awards provided to students, faculty, campus and programs, or see all of this year's awards from the full list below.

Support for BaFa’ BaFa’ face-to-face learning simulations which enhances understanding of cultural differences so that teachers can better reach students.

Provides kitchen supplies for the new Military Resource Lounge to open in Veteran’s Hall.

A new vortex for the CMS molecular teaching lab used by both graduate and undergraduate students.

Support for the Coaction Lab, a collaborative faculty research initiative within the Digital Arts program.

Scholarships for students from underrepresented populations to participate in the Jr. Seahawk Academy and increase their interest in STEM programs.

Grants Awarded Spring 2021

Grant to Campus Life and Arts Program to have a selected student artwork professionally framed for display in the Fisher University Union.
Grant to the Betty Holden Stike Education Lab within the Watson College of Education to purchase kitchen classroom supplies. These supplies help bring the math and reading concepts students are studying to life, through cooking.
Grant to the Department of Computer Sciences for a Gazepoint Biometrics system used to study human physical and emotional response to computing environments.
Grant to the Department of Biology and Marine Biology  to purchase a set of laptops that can be loaned to students for short-term use to ensure/maintain continuity in student studies.
Grant to the Department of Creative Writing to fund the printing of posters featuring our land acknowledgment to honor the Indigenous Peoples who lived on this land before colonists.
Grant to the Department of English to fund the publishing and printing of the Wilmington Wave, a student run newspaper.
Grant to the Music Department for the purchase of percussion instruments to enhance the performance of the UNCW jazz ensemble and Latin jazz combo.
Grant to the Music Department to fund the purchase of ribbon microphones to help develop music technology students.
Grant to the Randall Library to continue partnership with DC Virgo Preparatory Academy, by building a culturally relevant collection of books that cross multiple races, geographic locations, and social issues to ensure students are exposed to diverse perspectives and people.
Grant to the Department of Sociology and Criminology to fund supplies for restorative justice trainings in the SENC community.
Grant to the Student Health Center to help fund students to have free chlamydia tests if they indicate that they cannot afford the charges.
Grant to the Watson College of Education to support an ongoing project entitled, 'Teaching for Black Joy in Elementary Education,' which prepares aspiring NC teachers using frameworks of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Grant to the MarineQuest Youth Program to purchase a microscope camera to enhance virtual and in-person programming by allowing students of all ages to explore and uncover the wonders of the microcosmos.
Grant to the Watson College of Education/ Instruction Technology, Foundations and Secondary Education (ITFSE) to provide scholarships for youths to participate in the Junior Seahawk Academy program as well as green screen kits to allow filming of STEM activities and practice communicating STEM concepts to an audience.
Grant to the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry to help fund materials for an outreach project for UNCW students to create science experiment kits for their workshops with DC Virgo students.