The Golden LEAF Foundation has announced that 215 rural North Carolina students were selected to receive up to a $14,000 Golden LEAF Scholarship, including nine in Caldwell County.
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, tobacco-dependent or economically distressed North Carolina counties are selected based on career and educational goals, a review of school and community service activities, academic performance, length of residence in the county and 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 after graduation recipients will return and contribute back to rural communities. 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, Chief Executive Officer. "These students were selected out of a pool of more than 1,600 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."
"Receiving a Golden LEAF Scholarship is a great honor and these students should be proud of their accomplishment," said Representative Destin Hall. "Congratulations to Madison, Joseph, Kyle, Caroline, Jaelyn, Jileny, Jolie-Dean, Lyric, and Kiara."
"Congratulations to the students from Caldwell County for receiving this award," said Senator Warren Daniel. "Madison, Joseph, Kyle, Caroline, Jaelyn, Jileny, Jolie-Dean, Lyric, and Kiara have already demonstrated leadership and strong academic performance. I look forward to hearing of their future success!"
The newly selected 2022-23 Golden LEAF Scholarship recipients are as follows:
Caldwell County
Name
High School/ Community College
University
Madison Austin
South Caldwell High School
North Carolina State University
Joseph Bolick
South Caldwell High School
Appalachian State University
Kyle Bowman
Caldwell Early College High School
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Caroline Clark
Caldwell Early College High School
Queens University
Jaelyn Fox
Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute
Appalachian State University
Jileny Guevara-Lemus
Caldwell Early College High School
Lenoir-Rhyne University
Jolie-Dean Hipps
South Caldwell High School
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Lyric Larson
Caldwell Early College High School
Western Carolina University
Kiara Leary
Caldwell Early College High School
Western Carolina University