(August 2016) - The Community Foundation recently approved scholarships totaling $407,900 to 94 students in Western North Carolina. The Foundation administers 60 scholarships funds; 45 run a spring cycle offered to high school seniors each year.
Top recipients were:
Katherine Hopkins of School of Inquiry and Life Sciences who was awarded the Marilyn Lester and William Lester Scholarship, valued at $40,000 over four years as well as the Clyde and Mildred Wright Endowment Scholarship valued at $6,000 over four years
Harrison Kaufmann of T.C. Roberson High School who was awarded the Nathaniel Ellis Cannady, Jr. Scholarship, valued at $30,000 over four years
Joseph Rathbone of Pisgah High School who was awarded the Nathaniel Ellis Cannady, Jr. Scholarship, valued at $30,000 over four years
Noah Willingham of North Henderson High School who was awarded the Nathaniel Ellis Cannady, Jr. Scholarship, valued at $30,000 over four years
Katherine Wuertz of A.C. Reynolds High School who was awarded the Clyde and Mildred Wright Endowment Scholarship valued at $10,000 over four years
Athanasios Apostolopoulos of North Buncombe High School who was awarded the Irving Jacob Reuter Award valued at $10,000 over four years
Dakota Tittle of East Henderson High School was awarded a Clyde and Mildred Wright Endowment Scholarship valued at $16,000 over four years
Mary Beth Thomas of Mitchell High School who was awarded the Clyde and Mildred Wright Endowment Scholarship valued at $20,000 over four years and the Charles C. and Suzanne R. McKinney Scholarship valued at $12,000 over four years.
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.
"This year, we awarded 106 scholarships from 41 funds," said Jennie Eblen, member of the WNC Regional Selection Committee. "The generous people who set up these funds had the foresight to invest in our future. Their support helps young people in Western North Carolina achieve their educational dreams. It's an honor to assist these bright, talented and motivated students."