Caldwell Legacy
The Caldwell Scholarship Program was created in 1977 by the NC State Alumni Association to honor the legacy of John T. Caldwell. As Chancellor of NC State for 16 years, Caldwell presided over the university as a servant leader: inspiring excellence, modeling moral behavior, and marshaling the strengths of the entire campus to further the common good.
Guided by a deep respect for the potential inside every individual, Caldwell held a vision of NC State as a place where young people could find - and refine - their unique capabilities and potential. More than 80 Caldwell Scholarship endowments rest with the NC State Alumni Association and annually fund more than 100 Caldwell Scholarships.
As chancellor from 1959 to 1975, Caldwell is hailed widely as one of the institution’s most visionary and successful leaders. He was well known for walking the campus and talking freely with students and faculty. He hosted dinners in his home, discussing with students the important questions of the day and the university's response to them. He has been called the "chief architect in the development of NC State as a comprehensive and internationally acclaimed institution of higher education. "He was memorialized by former Gov. James B. Hunt (1959, 1962) with this tribute:
"He believed in unlimited potential for every student, and he inspired them and all of us to be our best. He was one of those great builders who was constantly optimistic, positive, looking ahead."
Chancellor Caldwell's legacy is one of servant leadership. Originally formulated by Robert Greenleaf, this understanding of leadership results from a desire to serve others first and is grounded in a strong sense of stewardship for one's various communities (academic, professional, civic, national and global). Characterized by an emphasis on personal growth, community-building, principled behavior, collaboration and mutual empowerment, servant leadership is not only what John Caldwell lived, it is also a leadership style that the Caldwell Programs seeks to nurture in its members.
Ultimately, the Caldwell Programs strives to be an organization of which Chancellor Caldwell would be proud, serving as a home for students who share his vision and as a force on campus for its realization.
NC Fellows and Caldwell Scholarship
The NC Fellows were established in 1968 by the Smith Richardson Foundation. Concerned for the state's future leadership, Mr. Richardson established Fellows Programs on several North Carolina campuses and charged them with providing special opportunities to enhance the development of potential leaders. Our Fellows program maintains a close tie with the internationally acclaimed Center for Creative Leadership, also created by the Smith Richardson Foundation. The merger of the Fellows with the Caldwell Scholarship in the 1990s yielded a program with unique opportunities.