The family and friends of William Bradley "Brad" Ayers established this memorial scholarship to celebrate and honor the life of this talented young musician. Brad graduated from Asheville High School in 1990 where he was voted the most talented by his classmates and was awarded the prestigious Louis Armstrong Award for his musical ability. He attended the Musician's Institute in Los Angeles before starting his career in music.
In June 1998, Brad died unexpectedly in Los Angeles, where he had made his home since 1990. His reputation in Los Angeles as a master of blues guitar was building, and shortly before his death he recorded two albums, one blues and one pop music.
Brad is remembered as an incredibly sensitive, caring young man who was very serious about his music. He believed his talent came from God, and praised Him with his music.
Asheville High School played an important role in Brad's life. He was in the marching band and was recognized by his classmates for his talent. His brother David and his mother Marcia both are graduates of Asheville High. It is the family's hope that this scholarship will offer support and encouragement to a young person pursuing a college education.
Amount
One-time $1,500
Number Of Awards
One Award
Deadline
Jan. 22, 2025
Eligibility
A graduating senior member of the Asheville High School (Buncombe County) band. Scholarship recipients are eligible to reapply while working toward an undergraduate degree, if they continue to meet scholarship criteria.
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.
Selection Criteria
- Present or past membership in the Asheville High School band
- Demonstrated financial need
- Academic ability with a commitment to complete an undergraduate degree
- Good moral Character
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.