AIC and The BASE Partner to Empower Urban Student-Athletes

American International College (AIC) and The BASE are proud to announce a new partnership designed to create opportunities for urban student-athletes to access higher education. This collaboration between AIC and The BASE is rooted in a shared mission to provide programs for underserved populations, with a specific focus on career and higher education opportunities.

Kerry Cole, AIC Vice President for Admissions, and Steph Lewis, President & CEO of The BASE, announced the scholarship agreement at The BASE College, Career, and Health Fair on August 4, 2023. This event was a part of The BASE’s annual National Urban Sports Classic and attracted hundreds of young participants from cities nationwide.

As part of this alliance, participants in The BASE College Access Program will be granted scholarships to cover housing costs at AIC. Recipients of The BASE Residential Scholarship will receive the equivalent of the cost of a traditional-style residence hall and an unlimited meal plan. Additionally, AIC will extend merit and need-based financial assistance to eligible BASE alumni.

Lewis expressed pride in partnering with AIC, stating, “Through this agreement, AIC has reaffirmed its dedication to ensuring that urban young people continue to have fair and equal access to a college education and the transformative experience of living on campus. We are deeply grateful to AIC for welcoming young people from The BASE into their community, and we look forward to a continued partnership in the years ahead.”

This collaboration with The BASE exemplifies AIC’s mission of advancing a diverse community of learners toward both personal and professional achievement. The College is committed to delivering outstanding student support through its Center for Navigating Educational Success Together (NEST). With this assistance, graduates of The BASE can build upon the academic readiness fostered by the organization’s programs.

With a demographic that includes 32% first-generation learners and 50% student-athletes, AIC naturally aligns with The BASE graduates. Nick Callini, the College’s Athletic and At-Risk Student Success Coordinator and Head Baseball Coach expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership. Callini said, “It is truly wonderful to offer the students of The BASE, our future leaders, the opportunity to continue their education and help achieve their goals.  This partnership will not only strengthen the College but also AIC’s baseball team. We already have a few members of the team who were part of The BASE program, and we look forward to seeing that number grow.”