Starting in Fall 2025, Troy University is introducing the Cardinal and Black Award, a scholarship designed to support graduating high school seniors who have participated in the Troy University Early College Dual Enrollment program.  

“The Cardinal and Black Scholarship was created because we have a lot of wonderful dual enrollment students who we hope enjoyed their dual enrollment experience with us. And we want them to continue with us as traditional students,” Dr. KeLeigh Pritchett, Assistant Director of Troy University Early College. 

This scholarship aims to ease the financial burden for students as they transition to their undergraduate studies at TROY’s main campus in Troy, Alabama. 

Eligibility Criteria 

To qualify for the Cardinal and Black Award, students must meet specific requirements. They must have completed at least 12 hours of dual enrollment credit through TROY’s Early College Dual Enrollment Program and maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.  

Pritchett explains, “This is not something that they will need to apply for.  At the end of the school year, we’ll pull a list of those dual enrollment students who are seniors, see how many hours they’ve taken, see the GPA that they have maintained and then automatically apply this to their scholarship portal.” 

Scholarship Details 

“This scholarship is a 3-year renewable award that students will be able to utilize for the remainder of their time here at TROY,” Pritchett continues. 

The Cardinal and Black Award offers financial assistance ranging from $1,000 to $2,000. More importantly, this scholarship is renewable for up to three years, provided the recipient maintains a minimum GPA of 2.7. This renewable aspect encourages students to continue striving for academic excellence throughout their undergraduate studies. 

Program Requirements 

Recipients of the Cardinal and Black Award must be enrolled in a degree-seeking program at TROY’s main campus in Troy, AL. This scholarship is exclusively for undergraduate students, emphasizing Troy University’s commitment to supporting students in their pursuit of higher education. 

Personal Goals and Academic Success 

The Cardinal and Black Award not only provides financial support but also motivates students to set and achieve personal academic goals.  

“We want to reward loyalty.  We believe in our program and the good that it does. We want students to see value in their Troy education and think ’Look, they invested in us as dual enrollment students.” Pritchett says.  

Maintaining a GPA of at least 2.7 is crucial for the renewal of the scholarship, encouraging students to stay focused and dedicated to their studies. This scholarship represents a significant opportunity for students to advance their education and career aspirations at Troy University.