Recently, the Golden LEAF Foundation announced that 215 students from 58 rural North Carolina counties were selected to receive up to a $14,000 Golden LEAF Scholarship.
This scholarship provides high school seniors entering a four-year North Carolina college or university with $3,500 annually for up to four years of undergraduate study. Community college transfer students are eligible for $3,500 a year for up to three years of undergraduate study.
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 students who have deep connections to their rural communities,” said Scott T. Hamilton, Golden LEAF President, Chief Executive Officer. “These recipients were selected from nearly 1,600 applicants. We look forward to their future accomplishments as they continue their education and become North Carolina’s next generation of rural leaders.”
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.
Among this year’s recipients is Melissa Espino of Lenoir County, who plans to study Animal Science at North Carolina State University with the goal of becoming a veterinarian. She is a graduate of North Lenoir High School.
“This scholarship will help reduce the cost of college, enabling me to learn more, gain experience through practical application, and engage in activities that will make me better prepared for veterinary school,” said Espino. “As someone who has lived in a rural town all her life, I’ve seen firsthand the significance of animal care to individual homes, the local farms, and the overall local agricultural economy. I wish to return as a veterinarian to give back to the community that raised me. The Golden LEAF Scholarship financially supports students like me who would be interested in pursuing careers that will build and maintain rural North Carolina, and that is precisely what I am working tirelessly towards.”
Mallory Edwards of Sampson County is a graduate of Mintz Christian Academy. She will be attending Campbell University in the fall studying English.
“I am so thankful to receive the Golden LEAF Scholarship,” said Edwards. “Through the support of this scholarship, I will be enabled to pursue a college education at the college of my choice, Campbell University. Furthermore, this education will allow me to achieve my goal of becoming a high school teacher. I am excited for the opportunities that Golden LEAF has afforded me, along with the connections that I anticipate through Golden LEAF. I know that the Golden LEAF Scholarship and its support will strengthen me on my path towards returning to my rural community as an educator.”
Lawson Setzer of Alexander County will be attending the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the fall studying science. He graduated from Alexander Early College High School.
“I am excited to receive the Golden LEAF Scholarship because, as a genuinely proud rural North Carolinian, I am eager to return to my area and serve the people I love,” said Setzer. “This scholarship will allow me to go to college and set me on a path toward my dream of becoming a dermatologist and serving Alexander County and the surrounding area.”
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 up to $18 per hour for up to 400 hours of work. Internships take place between May and August.
The Golden LEAF Scholarship Program does more than ease the financial burden of college, it helps cultivate a new generation of leaders who are dedicated to returning home to live and work. By investing in students with strong community ties and a vision for giving back, the program supports the long-term vitality and resilience of rural North Carolina.
Learn more about the Golden LEAF Scholarship Program by clicking here and read about individual recipients by county by clicking here.