Carolina's McNair Scholars Program, already one of the country's most attractive scholarship programs, has been increased by $10 million with a new gift from program founders Bob and Janice McNair of Houston.

The program, established in 1998 with a $20 million gift from the McNairs, celebrated its 10th anniversary Feb. 29 when the gift was announced. It offers a full-tuition scholarship to out-of-state students and has attracted 175 top-caliber students to Carolina from 18 states. Ninety-four have graduated, and 14 have remained in state for graduate school.

"Days like this don't come along very often," President Sorensen said in announcing the gift with the McNairs at his side. "This increase will ensure the McNair Scholar Program's longevity and its place as one of the most attractive scholarships in the country, which brings some of the finest students to Carolina."

Sorensen noted that the program attracted 200 applicants in 2002, a number that has risen to 1,000 applicants this past fall.

"We've been very pleased with the success of the program," said Bob McNair, a 1958 Carolina graduate who is the owner and CEO of the NFL's Houston Texans. It's been gratifying to see not only their accomplishments [as McNair Scholars] but knowing that they will accomplish a lot in the future.

"We don't know of a better way to be good stewards of what we've been blessed with than to invest in young people."

The University enrolls more than 20 McNair Scholars and McNair Scholar finalists every year. The most recent freshman class of McNair Scholars had average SAT scores of 1487. Because of their academic and service accomplishments, McNair Scholars are automatically admitted to the Honors College.

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