Thirteen students from Vance-Granville Community College recently received scholarships through the Golden LEAF Scholars program for the North Carolina Community College System. The 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 2013-14 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/continuing education and curriculum students are available during the fall, spring and summer semesters.
The VGCC students who were awarded Golden LEAF scholarships for the spring 2014 semester (with their respective programs of study) include:
Jarrett Ballard of Henderson (Associate in Arts);
Valeria Bibee of Kittrell (EMT-Paramedic);
Sonia Bishop of Stem (Computer Information Technology);
Karl Davis of Youngsville (Human Services Technology/Substance Abuse);
Kimberly Elliott of Stem (Human Services Technology);
Tracy Holland of Henderson (Business Administration);
Brandy Lynch of Hollister (Associate in General Education – General Science);
Allyssabeth Noel of Henderson (Criminal Justice);
Merritt Perry of Henderson (Nurse Aide I);
Reba Prince of Creedmoor (Associate in Science);
John Thomas of Youngsville (Entrepreneurship);
Shawna Vasilko of Wake Forest (Associate in Arts); and
Veronica Yount of Townsville (Business Administration).
“The Golden LEAF Foundation is proud to have awarded over 6,400 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 1,249 grants totaling more than $548 million since its inception. For more information about the foundation, visit www.goldenleaf.org or call (888) 684-8404.
Students interested in applying for a Golden LEAF Scholarship should contact the VGCC Financial Aid Office at (252) 738-3280.