Scholarships Empower Working Mom to Pursue Dream of Teaching
Scholarships provided through the Western Piedmont Foundation are enabling a student at Western Piedmont Community College to prepare to teach and lead the next generation in our community.
Robyn Bollinger is a Morganton native who currently lives in Connelly Springs. Following her graduation from high school, she moved to Camp Lejeune near Jacksonville, North Carolina with her husband while he served with the U.S. Marine Corps. The couple had four sons during his military service.
Following the family’s return to Burke County, Bollinger began working as a gymnastics instructor and coach for competitive cheerleading teams with the Tumblemania School of Gymnastics in Morganton.
This fall, she enrolled in the early childhood education program at WPCC full-time while still working at Tumblemania to pursue her dream of becoming a Head Start pre-K assistant teacher. Head Start programs support children’s growth from birth to age 5 through services centered around early learning and development, health and family well-being, according to the organization’s website.
“I was inspired to study early childhood education because I love helping young children learn and grow,” Bollinger said. “Seeing their curiosity, creativity and small milestones made me want to be part of shaping those important early years.”
Like a lot of couples with young children, she and her husband sometimes struggle to make ends meet, a situation exacerbated by the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene last year.
“When the hurricane happened, we had just moved into our new house,” Bollinger said. “We were without power and water for three weeks. I was not able to go to work, and my children were not able to go to school. What little money we did have, we had to use to buy a generator. My car was not working at the time, so the only vehicle we had was my husband’s truck.”
Navigating financial challenges and contending with finding reliable childcare have presented her with significant obstacles, but she is determined to overcome them to achieve her goal.
“Balancing schoolwork, parenting and daily responsibilities can be overwhelming,” Bollinger said. “Making time to study, keeping up with deadlines and managing everything at home can be difficult, but it also motivates me to keep going and succeed.”
When she enrolled at WPCC, she applied for financial aid and was awarded the Dr. Robert C. McAdams Scholarship, the Clark Douglas Powell Scholarship, the Michael J. Morse Memorial Scholarship, the Lt. Kelly Kincaid Emergency Services Scholarship and the Mary H. Warlick Workers’ Legacy Foundation Scholarship.
“Receiving scholarships from the Western Piedmont Foundation has made a big difference in my ability to attend WPCC,” Bollinger said. “It eased the financial burden, allowing me to focus more on my classes rather than worrying about how to pay for school. It gave me the support and confidence to keep working toward my goals.”
She is excited about what lies ahead in her college journey and future as a pre-K assistant teacher.
“The experiences I gain at WPCC, including networking with professors and peers, will help me build a strong professional network that will be invaluable as I advance in my career,” Bollinger said. “Additionally, the critical thinking and problem-solving skills emphasized at WPCC will help me adapt to an ever-changing job market and grow within my field.”
She encouraged people to consider donating to the Western Piedmont Foundation to remove barriers for people wanting to access higher education to achieve their career goals and realize their full potential.
“Donations truly change lives,” Bollinger said. “Many students at WPCC are working hard to build a better future while facing challenges like work, family responsibilities and financial stress. A scholarship can be the difference between someone continuing their education or having to stop. When you give, you are not just offering money, you are giving hope, opportunity and encouragement to someone who is trying to better themselves. Your support helps students stay in school, reach their goals and eventually give back to the community.”
Published: 11/12/2025