Scholarships

Scholarship Applications Due
February 8, 2024

WEF awards $120,500 in scholarships for 2023-2024

The Wilkes Education Foundation (WEF) board approved $120,500 in scholarships to be awarded for the 2023-2024 year. Scholarships include the Wilkes Education Foundation (WEF) Scholarships awarded to Wilkes County students and based upon their scholastic achievements, personal essays, community service efforts, and financial needs; G. Gerald Hendley Family Scholarships awarded to individuals in Wilkes County pursuing careers in the medical fields; Shrimanker Family Scholarship; and Della Arnold Scholarships awarded to students in Wilkes, Iredell, and Yadkin counties who are pursuing ministerial or teaching professions.

Wilkes Education Foundation Scholarships totaling $24,000 were awarded to Wilkes County HS students. Receiving scholarship awards of $5,000 each were Presley Barker, EWHS; William Epley, WECHS; and Gabriel Walsh, WECHS. Receiving scholarships of $1,000 each were Colby Brannan, WWHS; Katlin Bullis, WECHS; Brian Burchette, EWHS; Macy Byrd, WCHS; Taylor Koch, WCHS; Isabel Moinar, WCHS; and Anthony Welborn, NWHS. Michelle Marion, WECHS, received a $2,000 award.

G. Gerald Hendley Family Scholarships totaling $80,000 ($10,000 each) were awarded to these high school students: Aiden Byrd, WECHS; Jacob Chapman, WCHS; Jacob Dilday, WCHS; Carter Evans, WCHS; Amara Epley, WECHS; Payton McManus, WCHS; Nicole Roberts, WWHS; and Ledger Blackburn, EWHS.

College students receiving scholarships of $3,000 each (total $15,000) were Macie Bell, Kristen Blevins, Courtney Greene, Nicholas Hall and Evan Johnson.

The Shrimanker Family Scholarship of $1,000 was awarded Brooklyn Settle, NWHS.

The Della Arnold Scholarships of $500 was awarded to Bethany Settle, NWHS.

The WEF officers and committee chairs are the following: James Motsinger, president; Jackie Mallory, vice-president; Carolyn Triplett, secretary; Jody Hamby, treasurer; Bill Myers, assistant treasurer; David McNeill, fundraising/Hugh Martin Memorial Golf Tournament chair; Marcia Reynolds, scholarships chair; Danny Holman, mini-grants chair; Keith Bentley, nominations chair; and Gordon Burns, public awareness chair.

Funding for scholarships and grants is obtained from individual and corporate contributions, the annual Hugh Martin Memorial Golf Tournament, and foundation income.

The Wilkes Education Foundation is a private, non-profit, IRS 501(c) (3) tax-exempt endowment corporation dedicated to promoting excellence in education in the Wilkes County Schools. For information about contributing to the WEF, contact Jody Hamby, 302 9th St., North Wilkesboro, NC 28659, or call 336-667-1121.

Photo credit Dr. Gordon Burns: