Contact: Zina L. Carter
979.532.6417
The Wharton County Junior College Foundation recently presented scholarships to two Boling High School graduates. The scholarships will cover costs associated with attending WCJC. Pictured, from left, are Kaylin Meek, WCJC Foundation member Vince Reina Jr. and Kassidy Murphy.
The Wharton County Junior College Foundation recently presented scholarships to two East Bernard High School graduates. The scholarships will cover costs associated with attending WCJC. Pictured, from left, are Danielle Vacek, WCJC Foundation member Danny Gertson and Kayla Dobias.
The Wharton County Junior College Foundation recently presented scholarships to two El Campo High School graduates. The scholarships will cover costs associated with attending WCJC. Pictured, from left, are Richard Lormand, WCJC Foundation member Melba Clapp and Jae Avendano.
The Wharton County Junior College Foundation recently presented scholarships to two Louise High School graduates. The scholarships will cover costs associated with attending WCJC. Pictured, from left, are Karianna Freude, WCJC Foundation member Lloyd Nelson and Shyann Kocurek.
The Wharton County Junior College Foundation recently presented scholarships to two Needville High School graduates. The scholarships will cover costs associated with attending WCJC. Pictured, from left, are David Jason Castaneda, WCJC Foundation member Landon McClain and Jake Jordan.
The Wharton County Junior College Foundation recently presented scholarships to two Wharton High School graduates. The scholarships will cover costs associated with attending WCJC. Pictured, from left, are Dez’Arae Harrison, WCJC Foundation Board President Larry Wadler and Kayla Gaona.
WHARTON, TEXAS – This year marks the first time that the Wharton County Junior College Foundation is awarding scholarships to high school graduates so they can afford higher education.
The foundation recently distributed a dozen $4,000 scholarships to six area school districts – Wharton, Boling, East Bernard, Needville, El Campo and Louise – with each school receiving two awards. Students selected for a scholarship will receive the funds over a two-year period, with $2,000 awarded for the 2017-2018 academic year and $2,000 for 2018-2019, provided they comply with the scholarship requirements.
The purpose is to provide an opportunity for students who might otherwise be unable to afford higher education, said WCJC Foundation Board of Directors President Larry Wadler.
“The WCJC Foundation is pleased to offer these scholarships to make college more accessible for our area’s high school graduates and their families,” Wadler said. “Our goal is to encourage students to attend college, complete their program of choice and obtain a rewarding career with as little debt as possible.”
Zina Carter, WCJC’s Director of Marketing and Communications, has worked hand-in-hand with the foundation to establish the scholarship. Carter said education has the power to change lives – and the foundation is dedicated to doing what it can to make that happen.
“The college is very appreciative of the foundation for its generous support of these scholarships, which will make higher education possible for more students in our service area,” Carter said. “Acquiring additional education can have a dramatic effect on a family’s socioeconomic status, and can serve as inspiration for future generations to aim high and achieve their goals.”
Having a college so close to home is a great blessing for many area students, added foundation board member Suzanne Armour.
“Area students are so fortunate to have a place like WCJC in their backyard. Ranked as one of the top community colleges in the state, we have so many options available for students,” Armour said. “We can fit just about any student’s needs with our different campuses and with our academic and vocational programs.”
Students receiving the scholarships include:
Armour was pleased that the foundation was able to assist so many students for the fall semester.
“We are excited for our first scholarship recipients and wish them well,” she said. “We look forward to seeing them around campus.”
To qualify for the scholarships, students had to be approved for graduation in 2017 from one of the six schools in the service area. They also had to complete and submit a scholarship application, which includes the submission of an essay. Priority was given to students who demonstrated in their essay how a scholarship would enable them to overcome limited resources and financial constraints in order to attend WCJC.
Founded in 1954, the Wharton County Junior College Foundation was created with the mission of raising funds to benefit the college’s academic programs, faculty development and student scholarships. The foundation is a non-profit corporation and is operated by a Board of Directors. A scholarship fund is maintained by the foundation to award scholarships on an annual basis. Donations are tax deductible as the foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization. Donations may be mailed to the WCJC Foundation, 911 Boling Highway, Wharton, Texas, 77488. For more information, call (979)532-6304.
