News

128 Community Foundation scholarship winners listed

By , Published: June 13, 2013

The Community Foundation of Henderson County awarded $208,650 in scholarship assistance to 128 students for the 2013-14.

Awards were made to 64 new applicants for scholarships totaling $101,150 and the Community Foundation renewed 64 scholarships representing $107,500 in assistance. Since 1984, the inception of the Community Foundation's scholarship program, over 1,000 students have received assistance reflecting over $4.2 million paid to colleges and universities for the purposes of higher education.

Scholarships are open to students pursuing community college, college or university degrees. Scholarships are primarily for students graduating or who have graduated from high schools within Henderson County, North Carolina and includes home school and private school graduates. Criteria for scholarships vary by donor. Generally, the scholarships available are categorized by financial need, academics, affiliation and field of study or place of study, and range in award amounts. Available scholarships are announced in December of each year and information can be obtained at any Henderson County high school guidance office, at the Community Foundation office or online at www.CFHCforever.org.

"Scholarships serve our community in a number of different ways," said Community Foundation CEO McCray Benson. "Through scholarships, students are given the opportunity to pursue higher education because of the generosity of a person they may have never met. Scholarships provide relief from the rising financial burden of obtaining a college education. It also means someone has recognized the student's hard work, his or her talents and individual interest areas. Additionally it sends the message that someone cares and wants to see the people of our community succeed through continued education.

"For the donor who established a scholarship, it provides them with a way to leave a legacy for future generations (perhaps even remember a loved one by naming a scholarship fund in their memory), a way to pass their values forward and support hope in future generations. Simply put it offers the donor a way to give back to a community that has been good to them. As the Community Foundation of Henderson County continues each year to build our vital scholarship program, we have the honor of connecting the donor with the desire to give back to students who are pursuing higher education."