College Celebrates Golden Leaf Scholarship Recipients
Morganton, NC –Western Piedmont Community College (WPCC) recognizes and celebrates its students who receive Golden LEAF Scholarships from the North Carolina Community College System each semester. In the Fall 2014 semester, eight students in curriculum study and one student in occupational education were awarded including (l-r) Donna Grethen, Hannah Isenhour Webb, Tabitha L. Phillips and Sherry Arlette Avery who are shown with WPCC President Dr. Michael S. Helmick (center). Also receiving Golden LEAF scholarships were Alan Scott Eiss, Colby Carr, Melissa A. Wilson, Hannah Alexis Crisp and Dorothy Renee Lytle (not shown). The Golden LEAF Scholarship program, designed to help North Carolinians attend the state’s community colleges, is funded through a $750,000 grant from the Golden LEAF Foundation.
The scholarship can be used for tuition, books, fees, supplies, transportation and childcare related to attending classes during the 2014-15 academic year, and industry-recognized credential testing expenses that address skill gaps upon course completion. Eligible students must demonstrate financial need and reside in rural counties that are tobacco-dependent and/or economically distressed. Scholarships for both occupational and curriculum students are available during the fall, spring and summer semesters.
“The Golden LEAF Foundation is proud to have awarded over 8,000 Golden LEAF Scholarships to help North Carolinians attend our state’s community colleges,” said Dan Gerlach, Golden LEAF President. “Our hope is that these scholarships will help build the talent, knowledge and skills of our current and future workforce, especially in the rural areas of our state.”
The Golden LEAF Foundation is a nonprofit organization established in 1999 to help transform North Carolina’s economy. The foundation receives one-half of North Carolina’s funds from the 1998 Master Settlement Agreement with cigarette manufacturers and places special emphasis on assisting tobacco-dependent, economically distressed and/or rural communities across the state. The Golden LEAF Foundation works in partnership with governmental entities, educational institutions, economic development organizations and nonprofits to achieve its mission. The foundation has awarded 1,275 grants totaling more than $561 million since its inception. For more information about the foundation and the list participating community colleges and eligible counties, visit www.goldenleaf.org or call (888) 684-8404.
Students interested in applying for a Golden LEAF Scholarship should contact the WPCC Financial Aid Office at (828) 448-3597.
Western Piedmont Community College is situated in the picturesque rolling foothills of Morganton, North Carolina, and has served the citizens of Burke County since 1964. Each year, more than 10,700 students pursue personal enrichment, new skills for a job or career, high school diplomas, college degrees, and transfer pathways. Registration for Spring semester is Wednesday through Friday, Jan. 7 through 9. Apply online or visit the Western Piedmont campus to apply in person.