Video: Excellence within reach: Charles Hands

Charles W. Hands III, who serves as the chair of the Carolina Covenant alumni advisory board, talks directly to camera about his experiences attending UNC-Chapel Hill. Hands is shown in a mock courtroom, walking around campus, as well as in photographs from his childhood and college days.

“Growing up in Wilmington, I lived with my mom and my older sister. I didn't realize that I was considered disadvantaged growing up because there was so much love in that house. I was blessed in that I was always doing well in school, and I had the grades for college, but I never had college at the forefront of my mind at all in my immediate life.”

“I didn't have someone talking to me about college or seeing how this college work. And what is life like there? I knew Carolina was definitely one of my top choices to apply to. But at the time, what was going to decide where I ended up going was finances. The Carolina Covenant is a promise that was created in 2004.”

“No matter where you come from, no matter what disadvantages you have, if you are admitted into USC Chapel Hill, you will not have to worry about finances being a barrier for you to attend school and study. The day I was accepted into Carolina was a very happy day because it was like a validation of all the hard work that I put in my entire life academically.”

“But once the Carolina Covenant came in, I remember I was in my mom's room and I opened the letter. It made it clear that it was a full ride scholarship with no finances needed to be worried about at USC Chapel Hill at all. And she's like, what? And she just is ecstatic. And we're like screaming, jumping up and down. And she's immediately running to the phone and calling people that let them know the good news. And when I first got to USC Chapel Hill, the Carolina Covenant gave me a community. It helped me like, know that I could have a place here and I could succeed in my senior year. I was volunteering heavily with Cam University, and it's a program where at the time it was elementary kids and we were mentor and tutored and with their homework.”

“It inspired me to be who I am today. Where to this day, I always mentor that the clerk of the Carolina Covenant told me how a law degree can give me that opportunity where it wouldn't put me in a box as far as what I could do. As an attorney, I'm able to help people be visible in the community and also be inspirational and inspire people. And one way that I give back to the community is by serving this very same program that supported me when I was a student. I am the co-chair of the Alumni Advisory Board of the Carolina Covenant. I love working with students because they recognize that I oh, I was just like them, but I was able to make it work. I was able to be successful in this space, which indirectly lets them know I can do that too.”

Text graphics appear on screen:

More than 50% of Carolina Covenant Scholars are first generation college students.

Nearly 70% of undergraduate students graduate without student loans.

There have been more than 11,000 Carolina Covenant Scholars since 2004.

Excellence within reach. Visit: excellence.unc.edu.