Charles ("Chick") C. McKinney, a well-known figure in the advertising world, was passionate in his quest for excellence. Born in 1931 in Newdale, North Carolina, he spent his early years on a small farm near the South Toe River. At age 12, he left Newdale to live with his sister and her husband in neighboring Spruce Pine. It was through their support and encouragement that he attended and finished high school, and later worked his way through college.
Knowing well the value of a good education, and having great love for his North Carolina roots, McKinney and his wife Suzanne established a foundation to help provide scholarships to students of his alma mater, Mitchell High School. In choosing students as award recipients, McKinney always said that he wanted to help those who were "reaching for the stars" and could not otherwise afford a college education.
Shortly before his passing in Raleigh on September 12, 2007, McKinney and his wife decided to bring their foundation under the auspices of The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina. In this way, they were assured that their mutual care for area students would continue to bear fruit and provide recipients of this scholarship with opportunities for a brighter future.
Amount
$5,000 renewable for 3 more years
Number Of Awards
One Award
Deadline
Jan. 22, 2025
Eligibility
The Charles C. & Suzanne R. McKinney Scholarship Fund provides scholarship awards to students of Mitchell High School in Mitchell County, North Carolina. Particular attention is given to students at risk of failing to complete their educational plans for lack of funds. Applicants must be enrolled seniors at Mitchell High School, legal residents of Mitchell County, and U. S. citizens.
CFWNC ensures that all scholarship recipients are selected on an objective and nondiscriminatory basis and that selections are based on specific guidelines and criteria for each fund.
To Apply
To apply, students must complete an application online. The application, with required attachments, must be submitted online on or before the deadline. Click here to apply.
Application Procedure
The scholarship program is administered by The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina. Please direct any questions about this scholarship to the foundation, at scholarships@cfwnc.org.