ROCKY MOUNT — Today, the Golden LEAF Foundation announced that 215 rural North Carolina students were selected to receive up to a $12,000 Golden LEAF Scholarship, including two in Richmond County.
Students will receive a $3,000 scholarship each year for up to four years of undergraduate study at a participating four-year North Carolina college or university. Recipients from rural and 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 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 1,500 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.”
“My sincerest congratulations to Alena and Lilly for earning this award,” said Rep. Ben Moss. “I’m sure you will put in the hard work to help you accomplish your goals. We need students like you to help our rural communities thrive!”
The newly selected 2021-22 Golden LEAF Scholarship recipients are as follows:
Alena Craddock – Richmond Community College – University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Lilly Matheson – Richmond Senior High – Western Carolina University