Seven Halifax County students have been chosen to receive a share of up to $14,000 in Golden LEAF scholarships, the organization announced today.
The seven are among 215 rural North Carolina students to receive the scholarship awards.
The students are:
Rakeya Brinkley of Halifax County Early College High School who is attending Fayetteville State University
Anna King of Roanoke Rapids Early College High School who plans to attend East Carolina University
Alexis Macon of Northwest Collegiate and Tech Academy who plans to attend Winston-Salem State University
Samaria McGee of Weldon High School who plans to attend North Carolina Central University
Demetria Moore of Halifax County Early College High School who plans to attend North Carolina A&T State University
Briana Pitts of Halifax County Early College High School who plans to attend UNC-Charlotte
JeMarius Smith of Halifax County Early College High School who plans to attend North Carolina A&T State University
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 or economically distressed North Carolina counties are selected based on future career goals and an expressed intent to contribute to the stateʼs 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 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 and CEO. “These students were selected out of a pool of more than 1,700 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.”
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 $15 an hour for up to 400 hours of work. Internships take place over eight to 10 weeks, between June and August.
“In rural communities like Bertie, Halifax, Hertford, Martin, Tyrrell, and Warren counties, having a workforce that is ready and able to take on the challenges of tomorrow is invaluable,” said Senator Bobby Hanig. “Thanks to scholarship programs like those offered by the Golden LEAF Foundation, students in rural counties like ours have a chance to get a good education and then take what theyʼve learned and return home to impact and transform our community.”
State Representative Michael Wray said, “I want to offer a sincere congratulations and express appreciation to Rakeya, Anna, Alexis, Samaria, Demetria, Briana, and JeMarius for earning this award. Your hard work has paid off, and I have no doubt it will serve as a benefit to you for years to come. In fact, it's because of students from Halifax and Warren counties that I have faith in a strong future for our rural communities.”
