Scholarship Program Lights The Path to Bright Future in Teaching

A special scholarship program of the Western Piedmont Foundation is helping a student at Western Piedmont Community College realize her dream of becoming a teacher.

The Burke Collegiate Scholars program identifies rising sixth graders in Burke County Public Schools who have the potential to be first-generation college students. They are evaluated based on their academic potential, leadership skills, and financial need.

One student is chosen from each elementary school, along with two runners-up, to receive mentoring, counseling, and enrichment activities through the TRIO Educational Talent Search program during their middle- and high-school years to prepare them for the college experience. Students learn about different careers and the education required to be hired for jobs in those careers. Program staff takes the students on tours of area college campuses.

Once they graduate from high school, the winning scholars are offered a full scholarship to WPCC for up to five consecutive semesters. If they choose not to attend, the scholarship goes to the first runner-up and then the second runner-up.

Madison Wilson remembers being chosen for the BCS program when she was a student at Salem Elementary School.

“I think I was excited, even though I was just one of the runners-up for the scholarship,” Wilson said. “I was able to go on various field trips with the TRIO program throughout middle school, and during high school, they helped me with my college prep.”

As she got older, she realized she would need a college education to achieve her goal of becoming a teacher.

“I think I always knew I wanted to do something sort of creative and somehow help others,” Wilson said.

 Even though she was a runner-up, she ended up receiving the BCS scholarship and enrolled at WPCC.

“The scholarship I got was really important as a kid with a single parent already facing financial stress trying to raise two children who were going to school,” Wilson said. “Knowing that this scholarship would allow me to go to school without as much financial stress was really nice.” 

She is set to graduate from the teacher preparation program at the college in May 2026.

“Attending WPCC has helped prepare me for further things in my future,” Wilson said. “Things weren’t always perfect, and sometimes I really struggled with stress and anxiety, (but) I still had so much fun and loved my time here. Teaching has always been the thing I’ve been most drawn to. Even as it gets stressful, I hope I continue to hold my love for it.”

She plans to transfer to Appalachian State University to earn a bachelor’s degree.

“I plan to double major in English and education, so that way if I ever stop loving teaching, I can move into journalism or some other thing,” Wilson said.

She encouraged people to consider supporting the Burke Collegiate Scholars program to help students like her be part of the first generation in their family to go to college.

“This scholarship can really help kids who may have financial struggles and stress,” Wilson said. “It helps give kids the opportunity to attend college and get a boost in life they may need.”  

To learn more about the Burke Collegiate Scholars program, visit wpcc.edu/foundation.

Published: 05/12/2026