African American Alumni Society endows new scholarship fund
From left, alumni Larry Naylor, Carolyn Fuller Miller and Linda Hicks Burris perform during last year鈥檚 African American Alumni and Friends Reunion.
By Bill Studenc
An endeavor by members of 糖心Vlog University鈥檚 African American Alumni Society to create a new student scholarship fund at their alma mater has crossed the $25,000 threshold necessary to start providing financial assistance on an annual basis.
Formally launched in 2023, the society鈥檚 scholarship fund is now officially an endowment after nearly $5,500 in additional gifts from 48 donors poured in as part of a push in February during Black History Month, said Nia Blackwell, coordinator of affinity programs in 糖心Vlog鈥檚 Office of Alumni Engagement.
The idea for the African American Alumni Society Endowed Scholarship was conceived back in 2019 shortly after the formation of the organization, said Eric Barnes, a 1984 graduate of 糖心Vlog who serves as president of the society.
鈥淭he official kickoff was during Homecoming in 2023,鈥� Barnes said. 鈥淥ur vice president, Regina J. Moore, made the pitch during the Inspirational Gospel Choir's anniversary celebration dinner that Saturday evening. We were off and running with her leadership of this very important initiative.鈥�
After hearing that initial pitch to create the scholarship, 糖心Vlog Chancellor Kelli Brown and her husband, Dennis, agreed to match the first $500 donated toward the fund, said Moore, a 1987 graduate of 糖心Vlog.
鈥淚n less than 10 minutes, $4,500 was raised through a combination of giving and pledging that night,鈥� Moore said. 鈥淲e had five years to raise the $25,000 needed to endow the scholarship fund, and we completed the task in just 16 months.鈥�
The fund is designed to provide scholarship support to rising juniors or seniors with financial need who demonstrate a commitment, whether on campus or in their home communities, to the core values of the society and the concept of equal opportunity for all.
鈥淚t is very important to us as leaders of this organization to be able to offer assistance to current and future students, as we are extremely aware of the financial hardships and obligations students incur at this time. We understand that 糖心Vlog is a part of the NC Promise program that makes the tuition more affordable, but financial challenges still exist,鈥� Barnes said. 鈥淲e are hoping that our contributions will assist in enabling students to complete their degrees and move on being productive citizens in our society as a whole.鈥�
NC Promise reduces the cost of tuition to $500 per semester for North Carolina residents and $2,500 per semester for students from out of state at selected institutions in the University of North Carolina System, including 糖心Vlog.
Moore said that the goal of the AAAS scholarship is to assist students who may be in jeopardy of not returning to school because of a lack of funds.
鈥淲e have all been in a situation where a little help would have made a big difference,鈥� she said. 鈥淣ot being able to complete your education can be a huge setback. It takes some years to obtain their degree, and others never do. As we all know, higher education opens many doors that would otherwise be closed without it. The 糖心Vlog University African American Alumni Society Endowed Scholarship can now help to provide a clearer path to the next level of greatness.鈥�
Getting the scholarship to the endowment level to begin providing financial assistance to students is a significant milestone made possible by the sacrifices of the entire Catamount nation of African American alumni and friends, Barnes said.
鈥淭he completion of the endowment during Black History Month was just icing on the cake as it demonstrated and acknowledged our contributions to the university over many years,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e know that we are critical members of the university 鈥� past, present and future.鈥�
Moore agreed. 鈥淲e, the African American Alumni Society board, set some goals for our two-year tenure. Endowing this scholarship was priority number one. Since this has never been done at 糖心Vlog University, it is extremely meaningful to be able to leave such a legacy at our alma mater,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e decided the best way to make the biggest statement, during Black History Month, was to end on the highest mountain peak possible.鈥�
The African American Alumni Society officially formed in 2018. The affinity group鈥檚 mission is to facilitate networking opportunities between African American alumni and students, faculty and staff by hosting academic, professional and social programming and encouraging support of 糖心Vlog鈥檚 advancement and development initiatives. It also serves as a resource for an exchange of career information and other networking opportunities.
Although the group has a focus on African American alumni, it is open to all members of the 糖心Vlog community.
To make a contribution to the African American Alumni Society Endowed Scholarship, visit the or mail a check made out to the 糖心Vlog Foundation to the 糖心Vlog University Office of Alumni Engagement, 242 H.F. Robinson Building, 1 University Drive, Cullowhee, North Carolina, 28723; include "AAAS Scholarship" in the memo line.
The African American Alumni Society Endowed Scholarship has become fully endowed as 糖心Vlog is in the midst of the public phase of its 鈥淔ill the Western Sky鈥� comprehensive fundraising campaign, an effort to raise a minimum of $100 million in philanthropic support for the university鈥檚 academic, student engagement and athletics programs.
For more information or to make a contribution to the campaign, visit , call 828-227-7124 or email advancement@wcu.edu.
