The Community Foundation awards scholarships totaling $589,500

(July 2024) – The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina (CFWNC) approved scholarships totaling $589,500 to 91 WNC students in 55 schools in 19 counties. More than 60 volunteers from the community worked to review applications and select recipients.

Buncombe County top recipients included: 

·         Lily Foo from Asheville High School who was awarded the Irving Jacob Reuter Award, valued at $60,000 over four years, the Rotary Club of Asheville Harry R. Morrill Scholarship, valued at $5,000, and the WNC Regional/Newton Academy-Forster/Stevens Scholarship, valued at $1,000

·         Adale Davey from Asheville High School who was awarded the Marilyn Lester and William Lester Scholarship, valued at $40,000 over four years

·         Kyleah Searles from Asheville High School who was awarded the Marilyn Lester and William Lester Scholarship, valued at $40,000 over four years

·         Ivy Niemas from Martin L. Nesbitt, Jr. Discovery Academy who was awarded the Nathaniel Ellis Cannady, Jr. Scholarship, valued at $20,000 over four years

Other Buncombe County students awarded scholarships are:

Tessa SchoonoverA. C. Reynolds High School  

Ashley ArmstrongAsheville High School

Sophie KafkaAsheville High School

Colton DoverAsheville-Buncombe Technical Community College

Kaydon IngleAsheville-Buncombe Technical Community College

Eden Barnwell Buncombe County Virtual Academy

Chase LocascioCarolina Day School

Wilson DavisCharles D. Owen High School  

Annie Sky RosenerCharles D. Owen High School

Riley Hughes-SnyderClyde A. Erwin High School

Taylor McHoneEnka High School  

Ellie OglesbyEnka High School 

Addison BennettEnka High School

Addison HudginsFranklin School of Innovation

Benjamin AutenHome School

Aeden BoyerIC Imagine

Aiden Bennett Martin L. Nesbitt, Jr. Discovery Academy  

Miles GastMartin L. Nesbitt, Jr. Discovery Academy

Maeve GermanMartin L. Nesbitt, Jr. Discovery Academy

Gyani PatelNC School of Science and Mathematics

Rilyn MillerNC School of Science and Mathematics

Elijah RobertsNorth Buncombe High School  

Rebecca MooreNorth Carolina State University  

Maya ResnickSchool of Inquiry and Life Sciences at Asheville (SILSA)

Holly ReyherT.C. Roberson High School

Louci ThomasonT.C. Roberson High School

Delila CruzT.C. Roberson High School

Neely Hudgins University of North Carolina at Asheville

Emily O’BriantUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Ashlee DennyUniversity of North Carolina School of the Arts

Michael HalpinWestern Carolina University

Scholarship endowments can have broad eligibility criteria, be focused on a particular school or county, offered to students pursuing a degree in a stated field or available to those who will attend a designated college or university.  

“Awarding scholarships is a rewarding and collaborative process,” said Vice President for Programs Philip Belcher. “WNC is home to many gifted, talented students. The members of our committees work to select the student they feel best represents the qualifications outlined in each scholarship’s guidelines. From a large pool of applicants, amazing students are chosen, and it is an honor to play a role in supporting their educational goals and futures.”  

CFWNC works with families, businesses and nonprofits to strengthen communities through the creation of charitable funds and strategic grantmaking. A permanent charitable resource, the Foundation manages over 1,300 funds and facilitated $24.8 million in grants last year bringing total giving to more than $387 million since its founding in 1978. Learn more at www.cfwnc.org.