The Wilson Community College Foundation awards scholarships to students every year, beginning in the fall semester. Before the pandemic, we hosted a Scholarship Awards Ceremony every year where donors, student recipients, and Foundation Board members could celebrate together in person. And we finally get to gather together again on November 10 in a formal ceremony to celebrate.
In fact, we are awarding a record number of scholarships again this year — all because of our very generous donors. Just for the fall semester alone, the Foundation is giving out almost $86,000 in scholarship funds to our students. Collectively, that means $172,000 for this school year alone. Think about that number for a minute — $172,000 awarded at your local community college. And that was distributed among 139 very deserving students this year.
For some of our students, this money means they’re not having to choose between getting an education or paying the rent or car payment. Knowing that someone is invested in their education means the world, and it’s a huge motivator. It’s truly life-changing for our students.
I’ve been fortunate enough to hear so many great stories and read some of their letters to our donors expressing their gratitude. And I want to share with you one of them:
“I am a nursing student in the LPN program who plans to pursue a career in the nursing field. I am a single mother raising two beautiful kids and working two jobs to maintain my household and schoolwork. With your help, I will be comfortable continuing my studies without the financial burden. I will graduate summer of 2023, and I plan to work as a nurse and be an advocate for patients. I look forward to being able to give back to the community once I begin my career. Thank you for your confidence and willingness to help me achieve my goal.”
That’s just a small glimpse into the great impact our donors make. They’re the reason we’re awarding more scholarships than ever before. Many of our donors have established endowments, meaning $10,000 or more, that ensure ongoing annual scholarships in perpetuity. And we also have donors who provide annual scholarships that are not funded through an endowment. Some are individuals or families, and some are businesses and organizations. No matter how they donate, they all have one shared vision: to financially support students and change their lives.
Scholarships range anywhere from $150 to upwards of $7,000 per student. No matter the amount, any financial support for our students goes a long way. It’s one of the best investments anyone can make. After all, WCC students are our community.
For more information about the Foundation, contact me at jgriffin@wilsoncc.edu or 252-246-1271. You can also visit the Foundation website for even more information about how you can get involved. #WilsonCC We make Wilson work.
What’s Happening
- NOW – Registration for Winter Term and Spring Semester
- November 10 – Scholarship Awards Ceremony
- November 11 – Veterans Day Ceremony
- November 17 – Red Cross Blood Drive