Seven Wayne County residents were recently recipients of the Golden Leaf Scholarship.
Six of the seven recipients jumpstarted their college journey by taking courses at Wayne Community College through WCC’s College and Career Promise Program.
The 2024-2025 Wayne County Golden Leaf Scholarship recipients are:
- Aum Prajapati from Wayne Preparatory Academy
- Abigail Hackett from Wayne Country Day School
- Alyssa Howell from Charles B Aycock High School
- Heather Harkins from Charles B Aycock High School
- Katie Dodson from Southern Wayne High School
- Leah Blevins from Wayne Early/Middle College High School
- William Mooring from Eastern Wayne High School
High school seniors entering college as first year students are eligible for a $3,500 scholarship each year for up to four years of undergraduate study at a participating four-year North Carolina college or university. Community college transfer students are eligible for $3,500 a year for up to three years of undergraduate study.
Recipients from rural or economically distressed North Carolina counties are selected based on future career goals and an expressed intent to contribute to the state’s rural communities upon graduation from college.
The Golden LEAF Foundation established the Golden LEAF Scholarship Program to broaden educational opportunities and provide support to students from rural counties with the goal that recipients will return and contribute to rural communities after graduation. The North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority (NCSEAA) administers the program and selects students for awards.
“We are proud to award scholarships to hardworking and bright students with deep roots in their rural communities,” said Scott T. Hamilton, Golden LEAF Foundation President, and Chief Executive Officer. “These students were selected out of a pool of nearly 2,000 applicants. We look forward to the future success of these scholarship recipients as they follow their education pursuits and develop into North Carolina’s next generation of rural leaders.”
Scholarship recipients may also apply for the Golden LEAF Rural Internship Initiative. The Rural Internship Initiative provides Golden LEAF Scholars with professional work experience related to their career field in a rural North Carolina community. The Golden LEAF Foundation provides funding to pay interns $15 per hour for up to 400 hours of work. Internships take place between May and August.
