(July 2019) - The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina recently approved scholarships totaling $587,000 to 99 students in 57 schools in 22 counties in Western North Carolina. Sixty volunteers from the community worked to review applications and select recipients.
Top recipients were:
- Emily Frye from Asheville High School was awarded the Marilyn Lester and William Lester Scholarship valued at $40,000 over four years. She plans to attend Appalachian State University.
- Lucas Wiley from A.C. Reynolds High School was awarded the Irving Jacob Reuter Award valued at $40,000 over four years. He plans to attend Duke University.
- McKenzie Douglas from Mitchell High School was awarded the Charles C. and Suzanne R. McKinney Scholarship valued at $30,000 over four years. She plans to attend UNC Chapel Hill.
- Israel Manley from Enka High School was awarded the Nathaniel Ellis Cannady Jr. Scholarship valued at $30,000 over four years. He plans to attend NC State University.
- Larry McCray from Andrews High School was awarded the Reichman Scholarship valued at $30,000 over four years. He plans to attend Western Carolina University.
- William Windsor from School of Inquiry and Life Sciences of Asheville was awarded the Nathaniel Ellis Cannady Jr. Scholarship valued at $30,000 over four years. He plans to attend NC State University.
- Cooper Cable from Robbinsville High School was awarded the Clyde and Mildred Wright Endowment Fund Scholarship valued at $20,000 over four years. He plans to attend NC State University.
- Makayla Lail from Polk County Early College High School was awarded the Frances M. Miller Charitable Fund Scholarship valued at $20,000 over four years. She plans to attend UNC Chapel Hill.
- Sierra Lindsay from East Henderson High School was awarded the Clyde and Mildred Wright Endowment Fund Scholarship valued at $20,000. She plans to attend University of Georgia.
- Jessie Richards from Swain County High School was awarded the Clyde and Mildred Wright Endowment Fund Scholarship valued at $20,000. She plans to attend NC State University.
Scholarship endowments can have broad eligibility criteria or can be focused on a particular school or county, offered to students pursuing a degree in a stated field or available to those who will attend a designated college or university.
“It is a privilege to work with students, counselors and volunteers from all over Western North Carolina,” said Scholarship Officer Lezette Parks. “I would not be able to do my job well without their help. Working together, we awarded a record high of $587,000 to very deserving students this year. These awards are an investment in the future.”