Carolina Panthers Offers Opportunity Through Scholarships

On the football field, the Carolina Panthers aim for victory by capitalizing on opportunities. Off the field, the organization helps young people achieve their dreams by extending academic opportunities. 

Each year, the Carolina Panthers Scholarship Fund at Foundation For The Carolinas awards scholarships to deserving students throughout our region. Recipients are selected based on outstanding athletic participation, leadership and academic achievement. 

“The Carolina Panthers are proud to partner with Foundation For The Carolinas to support the education efforts of some of our region’s best and brightest students,” said Carolina Panthers Director of Community Relations Riley Fields. “The members of this year’s scholarship class serve as outstanding examples of leadership and achievement. The team is pleased to be part of their ongoing successes.”

FFTC currently manages nearly 150 scholarship programs on behalf of families, companies and nonprofits.

The Carolina Panthers Players’ Sam Mills Memorial Scholarship provides scholarships to rising college freshmen who are pursuing a four-year undergraduate degree. The scholarship is named in honor of the late Sam Mills, a former teammate who inspired the Panthers’ famous “Keep Pounding” slogan during his battle with cancer. 2020 recipients included:

• Akiya Philips (Northside Christian Academy) studying nursing at Gardner Webb University
• Richard Lee (Dorman High School) studying business at North Greenville University  

The Carolina Panthers Graduate Scholarship provides scholarships to student-athletes who are pursuing graduate studies. 2020 recipients included:

• Drew Grantham – Graduated from North Carolina State with an undergraduate degree in Public Relations and is pursuing a Masters in Liberal Arts with a Concentration in Organizational Behavior also at North Carolina State
• Tatiyanna Minor – Graduated from Johnson C. Smith University with an undergraduate degree in Criminology and is pursuing a graduate degree in Criminology or Law at North Carolina Central University.