11/30/11 — Sixteen to get Golden Leaf scholarships

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Sixteen to get Golden Leaf scholarships

By From staff reports
Published in News on November 30, 2011 1:46 PM

Sixteen students from Wayne Community College have been chosen to receive scholarships next fall through the Golden LEAF Scholarship program for the N.C. community college system.

Scholarships can be used for tuition, fees, books, supplies, transportation and even child care expenses related to attending classes during the 2011-12 academic year. Eligible students were to demonstrate financial need and be residents of rural counties that are tobacco-dependent and/or economically distressed.

The awards were available to both occupational and curriculum students at the college.

Recipients in the curriculum, or college credit, program include Diana Aycock and Kenesha Lofton, college transfer; Lanette McGlown and Diane Davis, human service technology majors; James Pemberton, criminal justice technology; Jody Thong, medical assisting; Christina Green, medical office administration/medical coding and insurance; and Quyesha Faison, medical office administration major.

Recipients enrolled in continuing education programs are Holly Capps, Tamika Goff, April Hill, Bobby Jackson, Pamela Jackson, Kathleen Porter and Dean Wellmer, Nurse Aide I students; and Makenya Jones, a basic medical insurance/coding certificate student.

The Golden LEAF Scholarship program, which is designed to help North Carolinians attend the state's community colleges, is funded through a $750,000 grant from the Golden LEAF Foundation, an increase of $250,000 from previous years.

The Golden LEAF Board recognized the challenge North Carolinians face in these tough economic times to attend college to retool and prepare for emerging job opportunities. The additional $250,000 will insure more scholarship funds are available for citizens seeking to enhance their employability skills.

"The Golden LEAF Foundation is proud to have awarded over 4,800 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."

Students interested in applying for a Golden LEAF Scholarship for spring or summer semesters should contact the Brenda Mercer at 739-6736 or Shelbra Jackson at 739-6735 in the WCC Financial Aid Office.