Ayars Pave the Way for UNCP Student Success

Former schoolteachers James and Jennifer Ayars understand firsthand the value of higher education and how it can shape students’ career path.

Through a life insurance gift, they established the Ayars Family Endowed Scholarship at The University of North Carolina at Pembroke. Recently they expanded the gift to support an award for a second UNCP student majoring in STEM and cyber security fields.

“James and Jennifer have been steadfast supporters of UNCP over the past years,” said Chancellor Robin Gary Cummings.

“Their enthusiasm for UNCP is clearly evident in any conversation. As our university grows, the need for private support for our students to pursue their educational goals has likewise dramatically increased. What better investment than in a student’s life, a life that will—in a very real way—carry on the Ayars’ influence and impact into the next generation.”

The couple hopes the scholarships will help make UNCP more competitive in attracting and retaining high-caliber students.

“We want to help students achieve their educational goals and hopefully go on to professional school and get a master’s and doctoral degree,” James Ayars said.

Ayars, a 1986 UNCP graduate, and his wife, owners of Sandhills Gymnastics in Aberdeen and Sandhills Creative Learning, have been longtime supporters of UNCP. Jennifer earned a degree in psychology at N.C. State University and Master’s in elementary education at Fayetteville State University.

James is a member of the Varser Society and was recently appointed to the UNCP Board of Visitors. He was presented with the university’s Outstanding Alumnus Award in 2019.

After earning his degree in chemistry, he worked as a high school physics and chemistry teacher in Cumberland and Moore counties for 27 years.

“I would always encourage my students to consider UNCP,” he said. “UNCP, which was Pembroke State University then, is where I grew and matured a great deal. The professors cared enough to tell me the level at which I was performing was not good enough. Several professors stick out like Rudy Williams, Jose D’Arruda, Harold Teague, John Reissner, Andrew Ransom, Monika Brown, Robert Brown, and Dennis Sigmon. They made a big difference in me.

“Being part of the UNCP family and doing for the university is one of the great joys in my life. When I was a student, I never imagined I would be able to be part of the university in the way I am now.”