First African American scholarship awarded to Hannah Bailey of Murphy

Press release from Dr. Emory E Prescott:

This spring marks the beginning of a legacy of academic scholarships to be gifted to African-American women of western North Carolina, with the first annual award of academic scholarship given by One Dozen Who Care, Inc. This non-profit organization, founded over twenty years ago by a small group of African-American women in far western North Carolina, holds values that embody bridging between cultures, ethnicities, and religions. Ann Miller Woodford, as the group’s Executive Director and the full One Dozen Who Care Board of Directors share the group’s mission statement, which encompasses entrepreneurship, leadership, and education for women and youth.

This year’s recipient, the 2019 One Dozen Who Care – Prescott Scholar, is Ms. Hannah Bailey. Hannah lives in Murphy, NC where she has been attending Hiwassee Dam High School. Hannah will be graduating this spring. She has been accepted at Carson-Newman University, a Christian liberal arts university in Jefferson City, Tennessee where she will begin studies in the fall. Hannah has an interest in studying nursing, psychology, music, and art.

“This group of forward-thinking women represents an ideal of high honor, respect, and a collective acceptance of all women, regardless of culture, creed, or race” says their benefactor and board advisor Dr. Emory E Prescott. “I am inspired by these women, primarily African- American, knowing that they have shared a past riddled with segregation, unfairness, stereotypes, and abuse, and yet they choose not to separate but to stand inclusively with all women.”

The academic scholarship recipient was recognized and awarded her scholarship this past April 13th at the 17th Annual Multicultural Women’s Development Conference, held at the Hinton Rural Life Center in Hayesville, NC, an event hosted by One Dozen Who Care, Inc.

Dr. Prescott believes strongly in One Dozen Who Care, Inc. and last year, she and the group established the One Dozen Who Care – Prescott Endowment. Given in the spirit of community unity and social justice, this fully-funded academic endowment is intended to directly support a part of the One Dozen Who Care, Inc. mission. The annually-awarded scholarship gives one woman per year a transformative, well-deserved bit of assistance in her goal of pursuing higher education. “I believe this is an investment in women of minority cultures in western North Carolina and in their futures,” stated Dr. Prescott.

The One Dozen Who Care – Prescott Endowment will allow for an annual scholarship award of $1,500 to be awarded to a woman who is actively pursuing higher education. The Scholarship Committee, led by Mary Sue Casey, is in charge of receiving scholarship applications for review and assembling judges made up of the One Dozen Who Care Board of Directors and other esteemed community members from western North Carolina. Mary Sue Casey stated “we are in search of college-bound women or women already enrolled in higher education with a financial need who fulfill our mission.” Applicants must meet certain criteria as designated by the One Dozen Who Care Scholarship Committee.

Scholarship applications can be found online at www.onedozenwhocare.org. Applications will be accepted each year between early January and mid-February. All women may apply for the academic scholarship but preference is given to women of color, especially African-American women.