BOONE – Appalachian State University will welcome six students this fall as the third class to receive the Wilson Scholarship, the university’s most prestigious merit scholarship.
The scholarships were established in 2013 by Brad and Carole Wilson of Raleigh, both 1975 graduates of Appalachian. Brad Wilson is the CEO of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina and a Co-Chair of Higher Education Works. Carole Wilson is a member of Appalachian State’s Board of Trustees.
Each scholarship totals $15,056 a year to cover tuition, fees, books and room and board for four years as long as the recipient maintains a minimum GPA of 3.45. Scholars also receive $2,500 a year to pursue academic and service projects that they design themselves. The incoming class will also take a week-long academic trip to Costa Rica in October.
With the new class, there will be 14 Wilson Scholars at Appalachian. The recipients this year are Victoria “Vicky” Anderson of Rutherfordton, Grace Bowling of Boone and Asheville, Fahiima Mohamed of Raleigh, Javon Nathaniel of Charlotte, William “Jake” Powell of Cary and Anisha Sharma of Summerfield.
Dr. David Marlett, faculty director of the program, said more than 1,400 incoming students applied for the scholarship.
“The caliber of students applying for this scholarship program is outstanding,” Marlett said. “They are independent, creative and critical thinkers who are passionate about service and dedicated to understanding the world around them.”1
In their own words, the scholars give a taste of what attracted them to Appalachian and the Wilson Scholarship:
- Javon Nathaniel: “I decided to attend Appalachian State University because of the family-like atmosphere that all of the students worked to build on campus. The initial feeling of walking on campus and being overwhelmed by smiles made me feel like I was home. Throughout my college search I could not find another college that created the same kind of environment.”2
- Vicky Anderson: “Becoming a Wilson Scholar means to accept responsibility for your purpose in the world, to utilize the resources given to you to the best of their capability, to immerse yourself in the unfamiliar with hope to uncover more about your place in life.”3
- Grace Bowling: “I am so honored to become a part of the Wilson Scholar Program and to join a group of people who are chasing down their dreams and reveling in their passions. To learn and grow alongside thinkers and doers who inspire and challenge is a gift I value highly.”4
For more information about the Wilson Scholars Program, visit http://wilsonscholars.appstate.edu.
1 http://www.news.appstate.edu/2016/05/27/wilson-scholars-2016/
2 https://wilsonscholars.appstate.edu/wilson-scholars/javon-nathaniel
3 https://wilsonscholars.appstate.edu/wilson-scholars/vicky-anderson
4 https://wilsonscholars.appstate.edu/wilson-scholars/grace-bowling
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