The Philanthropy team recently sat down with Mary Grace (MG), one of the 2025 recipients of the Julia McCoy Scholarship, to hear firsthand about the experiences shaping her academic path and her hopes for the future. From the start of our conversation, it was clear that MG’s story is one of curiosity, purpose, and a deep desire to make a positive difference. We are proud to share her journey with our community, highlighting her commitment to learning and the meaningful impact she is already making on campus, throughout the community, and beyond.
MG’s academic journey began to take shape in high school, where she intentionally sought out courses that challenged her and fueled her interests. Enrolling in honors and Advanced Placement classes, she pushed herself academically while exploring new ideas and possibilities. As graduation approached, MG carefully researched and toured several colleges, weighing both academic opportunities and long-term fit. When she discovered the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG), she felt an immediate connection, recognizing it as a place where she could grow intellectually and personally.
Now an Environmental Sciences and Sustainability major, MG continues to embrace challenge and exploration. In her most recent semester, she took on an ambitious 17 credit hours, choosing to stretch herself further by adding music classes alongside her science coursework. While her minor remains undecided, MG approaches her studies with curiosity and openness, eager to follow where her interests lead.
Alongside her academic pursuits, MG works part time at Givens, supporting Dining Services during school breaks. She speaks with gratitude about the opportunity to remain connected to Givens while continuing her education. A spirit of care runs deeply in MG’s family. As the daughter of Kelli Mullinix, Spiritual Care Chaplain, she grew up watching compassion, service, and attentiveness in action, values that now guide MG in her own work, studies, and relationships.
MG’s passion for environmental science is rooted in a lifelong love of the outdoors and an increasing awareness of changes happening in the world around her. “I see so much going wrong in the environment,” MG shared, “and I want to protect the world I live in and care about.” She is especially drawn to hands-on efforts such as documenting areas affected by natural disasters, participating in trail and roadway clean-ups, and studying soil health to better understand how ecosystems thrive or struggle. Through this work, MG hopes to contribute to sustainable solutions that protect natural landscapes and ensure they continue to flourish for future generations.
The moment MG learned she had been awarded the Julia McCoy Scholarship is one she will never forget. While checking her email at school, she saw the notification and immediately felt a mix of awe, disbelief, and gratitude. The scholarship eased a significant financial burden, allowing MG to focus more fully on her studies without the stress of worrying about future loans. With fewer hours dedicated to work, she now has more time to invest in learning, reflection, and personal growth.
Established by Givens Communities in honor of Julia McCoy, the former Training and Development Director, the Julia McCoy Scholarship celebrates students who demonstrate dedication to education, professional development, and community impact. These are qualities Julia McCoy embodied throughout her career and qualities MG exemplifies through her academic commitment and service. Scholarship recipients are selected by a committee composed of members from Givens Human Resources and the Philanthropy Department and are supported as they pursue their educational and professional goals.
MG shared that the scholarship has given her the confidence to pursue membership in the Honors College, a path that requires additional coursework, time, and focus. Knowing that she can reduce her work hours has allowed her to fully commit to challenging academic opportunities and remain focused on her long-term goals.
Looking ahead, MG’s career plans are still unfolding. She is actively exploring opportunities within the environmental field and hopes to find a role that offers flexibility, whether working outdoors, in a dynamic office setting, or through a hybrid model. MG also spoke excitedly about her longtime dream of van life, which symbolizes freedom, creativity, and mobility. For her, the ability to travel, stay close to nature, play guitar, read, and integrate her work into a flexible lifestyle represents both personal expression and professional possibility.
Community engagement is a cornerstone of MG’s life. She has participated in food and clothing drives and previously served as a youth leader at her church, experiences that led her to Associated Campus Ministries, where she now serves as a student leader. In this role, MG helps provide meals, builds furniture, maintains welcoming spaces, and supports efforts such as a community garden that supplies food to campus ministries and the broader community.
Beyond her academic achievements, MG proudly shares that she is a member of the LGBTQ+ community. She values spaces that are welcoming, inclusive, and affirming and is grateful to have found such environments at Givens, within churches, and throughout other supportive communities. MG hopes that spirit of openness and belonging continues to grow everywhere.
MG also encourages others to embrace learning as a lifelong pursuit. An avid reader, she believes education extends far beyond the classroom. “If you’re willing to put in the work, you can learn anywhere,” she shared. Reading has broadened her perspective and strengthened her understanding of the world.
Through her academic drive, environmental passion, and deep commitment to community and care, MG exemplifies the values the Julia McCoy Scholarship was created to honor.
Philanthropy is proud to support incredible students like MG, whose passion, perseverance, and vision reflect the heart of the Julia McCoy Scholarship Program. Our goal is to enrich lives not only by easing financial barriers, but by empowering students to pursue their goals with confidence and purpose. When donors invest in the Julia McCoy Scholarship, they are helping today’s scholars thrive while ensuring future students have access to the same life‑changing opportunities. Each gift strengthens a ripple effect of knowledge, compassion, and innovation that reaches far beyond the classroom and into the communities these students will serve for years to come.
Those who wish to support the Julia McCoy Scholarship Program and help uplift remarkable students like MG can make a gift by clicking here: https://givensphilanthropy.org/giving/