(June 2026) - The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina (CFWNC) approved scholarships totaling $671,500 to 106 WNC students in 60 schools in 20 counties. More than 60 volunteers from the community worked to review applications and select recipients.
Top recipients are:
- Ian Torres-Vera of Enka High School who was awarded the Irving Jacob Reuter Award, valued at $40,000 over four years.
- Sophia Armstrong of Asheville High School who was awarded the Marilyn Lester and William Lester Scholarship, valued at $30,000 over four years, and the WNC Regional - Newton Academy-Forster/Stevens Scholarship, valued at $1,000.
- Karma Casey of School of Inquiry & Life Sciences at Asheville (SILSA) who was awarded the Marilyn Lester and William Lester Scholarship, valued at $30,000 over four years, and the WNC Regional - Newton Academy-Forster/Stevens Scholarship, valued at $1,000.
- Elise Gonzales of Clyde A. Erwin High School who was awarded the WNC Regional - Clyde and Mildred Wright Endowment Fund Scholarship, valued at $20,000 over four years, the Rotary Club of Asheville Harry R. Morrill Scholarship, valued at $5,000, the North Carolina Alpha Epsilon Memorial Scholarship, valued at $1,000, and the Rotary Club of Asheville - West / John Maggard Memorial Scholarship, valued at $750.
- Gilbert Herrada Luna of NC School of Science and Mathematics – Durham who was awarded the WNC Regional - Clyde and Mildred Wright Endowment Fund Scholarship, valued at $20,000 over four years, and the Joanna Cornerstone Ministries Scholarship, valued at $1,500.
- Landri Reese of Madison High School who was awarded the WNC Regional - Frances M. Miller Charitable Fund Scholarship, valued at $20,000 over four years, and the Ruth Paddison Scholarship, valued at $3,000.
- Alexis Beasley of Andrews High School who was awarded the Reichman Scholarship valued at $20,000 over four years.
- Aubrey Partlow of Charles D. Owen High School who was awarded the A. Joe Hemphill, Jr. Scholarship, valued at $20,000 over four years.
- Jefri Avila of Clyde A. Erwin High School who was awarded the Nathaniel Ellis Cannady, Jr. Scholarship, valued at $20,000 over four years.
- Enrique Alanis of Henderson County Early College High School who was awarded the Nathaniel Ellis Cannady, Jr. Scholarship, valued at $20,000 over four years.
- Keenan Machi of Martin L. Nesbitt, Jr. Discovery Academy who was awarded the Nathaniel Ellis Cannady, Jr. Scholarship, valued at $20,000 over four years.
- Claire Weaver of North Henderson High School who was awarded the Nathaniel Ellis Cannady, Jr. Scholarship, valued at $20,000 over four years.
- Judson Bragdon of Lake Lure Classical Academy who was awarded the WNC Regional - Clyde and Mildred Wright Endowment Fund Scholarship, valued at $20,000 over four years.
- Elizabeth Mondragon of Mountain Heritage High School who was awarded the WNC Regional - Clyde and Mildred Wright Endowment Fund Scholarship, valued at $20,000 over four years.
- Daniela Mendoza-Resendiz of Pisgah High School who was awarded the WNC Regional - Clyde and Mildred Wright Endowment Fund Scholarship, valued at $20,000 over four years.
- Campbell Wehr of Robbinsville High School who was awarded the WNC Regional - Clyde and Mildred Wright Endowment Fund Scholarship, valued at $20,000 over four years.
- Audrey Goins of T. C. Roberson High School who was awarded the WNC Regional - Clyde and Mildred Wright Endowment Fund Scholarship, valued at $20,000 over four years.
- Jennifer Guzman of Robbinsville High School who was awarded the Gene and Lee Meyer Scholarship, valued at $12,000 over four years.
- Katie-Lyn Gross of Robbinsville High School who was awarded the Gene and Lee Meyer Scholarship, valued at $12,000 over four years.
“Serving on the scholarship committee is incredibly rewarding,” said Leronica Casey, a volunteer reviewer for the Nathaniel Ellis Cannady, Jr. Scholarship and Rotary Club of Asheville Harry R. Morrill Scholarship programs. “I enjoy reviewing and reading each applicant’s story of ambition and get joy knowing that my efforts contribute to helping the next generation overcome financial barriers and reach their educational goals.”
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.