WCC Scholarship Ceremony
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on February 19, 2004 1:59 PM
The Foundation of Wayne Community College recognized its scholarship recipients and donors in its annual scholarship awards ceremony at the college.
More than 300 students who received scholarships for the fall 2003 and spring 2004 semesters had the opportunity to meet their benefactors.
Forty-five percent of Wayne Community College's student population is assisted through financial aid, grants and scholarships. The Foundation provided an estimated $185,000 in scholarships for this school year's semesters.
Foundation b member Donald J. Magoon thanked those who contributed to the scholarship fund "for allowing us to assist so many students and launch them toward their dreams. I thank you on behalf of these students who are learning now and building our future."
Magoon said, "With the start you have given them and the example you have set, these scholarship recipients may one day become scholarship providers."
The college's president also thanked the donors.
"Without donors, many of these students would not be able to pursue post-secondary education and their lives' dreams," said Dr. Edward H. Wilson, Jr.
Shannon Davenport, president of Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for two-year colleges, and vice president of the college's Student Government Association, spoke on behalf of the scholarship recipients. Ms. Davenport said she knows firsthand how much a scholarship means. She received two scholarships, one from Barnes, Braswell & Haithcock law firm and one in memory of Dr. Lance Loomer.
"The obligations we have had to meet regarding our family, work and school lives are many but we have persevered, and as you can see, have gone above and beyond to meet expectations in order to receive these scholarships," she told the donors. She thanked them for "allowing us the opportunity to become the best that we can be."
The Foundation is conducting its annual community fund drive and has a goal of raising $285,000. Jack Kannan, executive director of the Foundation, said donors like the ones who came to the ceremony are the backbone of the scholarship program.
But as more students are asking for help with tuition, fees and books, Kannan said, the Foundation has to ask for more from traditional sources and look for new donors.
"It takes a lot of people to bring this to fruition. People like you donors make it possible for them to come to school," he said.