In 2020, Carolina Panthers owners David and Nicole Tepper partnered with the University of South Carolina's Department of Sport and Entertainment Management to launch the Tepper Scholars Program. It was an incredibly generous gift. Four years later, as the first students to benefit from the program graduate, it has exceeded all expectations.

The David and Nicole Tepper Scholars Program provides merit-based four-year scholarships to four incoming sport and entertainment management majors each year. Tepper Scholars receive funding to cover a substantial amount of their tuition, but that is only the beginning. The Teppers have focused from the program’s inception on making it more than just a generous financial gift. They also provide the students with direct mentorship, internships and many other  enrichment opportunities.

Nicole Tepper served as the Keynote speaker May 3 for the USC College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management’s Hooding and Cording ceremony, honoring outstanding graduates including the first four Tepper Scholars to earn their degrees: Hannah Margeson, Madelin McLean, Jordan Mooring and Devon Watson. 

"These four amazing students will remain near and dear to me for the rest of my life, not only as the inaugural graduating class of Tepper Scholars but also because they epitomize what this university, and specifically the College of Hospitality, Retail, and Sport Management, are all about," Nicole Tepper said. 

Each Tepper Scholar spends a summer interning with the Panthers, Charlotte FC, Tepper Sports and Entertainment and Bank of America Stadium. Through that internship and other opportunities made possible by the Teppers, the first four graduates have had an unmatched college experience. They have stood on the sidelines for NFL games, MLS games, Premier League exhibitions, stadium concerts  and more. They attended a Super Bowl together, with access that could never have been possible without the Teppers. They have played a part in charity events like Joy to the Carolinas and so much more, all while receiving an education in USC’s sport and entertainment management program, consistently ranked among the best in the world.

"The impact of the Tepper Scholars program can be seen when looking at how much these four have grown over their time at South Carolina. Through the internship, experiences, and mentorship these four have become leaders in our student body and will soon be leaders in the sport and entertainment industry as well," said USC Department of Sport and Entertainment Chair Matt Brown, who has worked closely with the Teppers and with the Tepper Scholars since the program’s inception.

"The Tepper Scholars Program hasn't just shaped my experience, it has been my experience," Watson said. "When I came into college, I knew what I wanted to do but I didn’t know how to get there. I didn’t know what life after college was going to look like, and now I feel like I have a clear picture. I love this school, but I might easily be somewhere else if it wasn’t for the support that I've gotten through this scholarship."

"My college experience has been incredible, and the support that I've received not only from the College of HRSM but from the Tepper Scholarship has definitely shaped my entire experience," said Margeson.

Nicole Tepper has been a frequent visitor to Columbia and a big part of the lives of these students, exactly as she had in mind when she and David Tepper chose USC to launch the program.

"In our family, our philanthropic efforts through the David and Nicole Tepper Foundation have always focused on education. When we came to the Carolinas in 2018, it was really important to our family to start looking at scholarship programs, and the University of South Carolina is one of the best for sport and entertainment, hospitality, retail and all those things. As we looked into the school and got to know the faculty and staff, for me it was a no-brainer," said Nicole Tepper.

Those efforts have paid off in many ways, as the students know better than anyone.

"This program has started a community at USC. It's given me people that I can lean on and connections, and people I can call very close friends," Mooring said.

McLean will be the first Tepper Scholar to work full-time in the NFL, having accepted an operations position with her hometown Baltimore Ravens (with Nicole and David Tepper cheering her on, all rivalries aside).

"Working with Mr. and Mrs. Tepper has been such a unique opportunity because not only are they always friendly faces to see at Bank of America Stadium, they are also always willing to lend an ear if we ever need advice and they’re always our number one fans, supporting us," McLean said before speaking for all four in expressing gratitude for it all. "Thank you so much, Mr. and Mrs. Tepper, for starting this program and picking the University of South Carolina. It’s been an incredible ride and we’re all so thankful to have you as part of our lives."

The first graduating class is just the beginning. More Tepper Scholars will spend this summer interning in Charlotte, and four new freshmen will join the program for the 2024-25 school year.

"I am profoundly grateful for the transformative impact the Tepper Scholars Program has had on our students," said USC College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management Dean Michael Sagas. "The dedication and generosity of David and Nicole Tepper have not only enriched the educational experience of our scholars but have also set a new standard for excellence and opportunity in our college. Their support has empowered these remarkable students to excel and become future leaders in the sport and entertainment industry."