Olivia Stricker, often called Liv, is an alumna of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is a specialist for Carolina Covenant, a financial aid program designed to help qualifying students attend and graduate from UNC debt-free. In her role, Liv supports the academic success of students in the program.
Although Stricker plays a crucial role in her workplace, conversations with her reveal that her current life is not entirely what she envisioned as a high school student.
Liv grew up in Charlotte, North Carolina, alongside her mother, father, and three older siblings. She describes her childhood as comfortably middle class. However, everything changed when her father lost his job after working for 20 years. This led Liv’s mother to start working as well, and for the next ten years, the family managed on a gross income of $9,000.
Growing up in those circumstances, Liv doubted whether college was a realistic option, as her family’s financial struggles made higher education seem like a dream. She states that coming from a background where she didn’t think Carolina would be attainable, she was baffled when she was accepted into the school. She credits Carolina Covenant for making this dream a reality.
For Stricker, Carolina Covenant means family. Her strong support system and former mentor, Candice Powell, inspired her to help others through higher education. She explains that through Carolina Covenant, she surrounds herself with positive influences that motivate her career.
Liv Stricker will continue her career as a Carolina Covenant specialist, dedicated to fostering student success at Chapel Hill, while pursuing a master’s degree in higher education—all thanks to Carolina Covenant.
