click on photos to enlarge

Blue Ridge School students inducted as New Century Scholars included, left to right: Autumn Baird, Jonathon Hall, Jarrett Long, Courtney Pressley and Desire Newman.

New Century Scholars inducted from Cullowhee Valley School included, left to right, front row: Michael Sheff, Anthony Hoxit, Madalyn Chastain, Alexis West, Abigail Watson, Tyson Frizzell and Scott Ensley. Back row: Ethan Fortner, Jared Partain, Taylor Riouff, Melanie Broom, Megan Wike, and Madison Bjork. Not available for photo: Zachary Frizzell.

Fairview Elementary students inducted into the New Century Scholars program included, left to right, Tierra Allen, Trevor Baldwin, Zach Bartel, Trey Beauchemin, Elizabeth Brooks, Nikki Buchanan, Tyler Buchanan, Jade Moore. Back row: Caitlin DiRico, Madison Lovedahl, Brittany Lund, Caleb Parham, Jalen Rosbor, Heather Shook, Megan Tate, and Joey Terreault. Not available for photo: Breanna Deitz and Lorena Yanez.

Students from Smokey Mountain Elementary inducted as New Century Scholars included, left to right: Ethan Bales, Jeffrey Denton, Kayla David, Ashlin Beck, Alec Bowers, Kaitlyn Moody, and Kaitlyn Wright. Not available for photo: Ashley Eller, Dylan Lossiah, Douglas Messer and Anissa Price.

Two students from Summit Charter School were inducted into the New Century Scholars program at SCC: Brittany Campbell and Christopher Potts.

Sixty-two seventh grade students from Blue Ridge, Cullowhee Valley, Fairview Elementary, Smoky Mountain Elementary, and Summit schools were recently inducted into the New Century Scholars Program at Southwestern Community College. Students from Scotts Creek School were unable to attend and will be inducted on October 18.

After a cookout to celebrate the occasion, the students, their families and friends, and educational officials from Jackson County and SCC gathered in Myers Auditorium for an induction ceremony.

"This is your first day of college,” Dr. Connie Haire, vice president of Macon Campus and Institutional Development, told the young people who were accompanied by family members and friends.

"You’re starting out tonight in the auditorium where you will graduate with an associate degree. You’ll receive your degree right there,” she said, pointing to the left side of the stage where SCC grads traditionally are handed their diplomas at commencement exercises.
Later Haire introduced Dr. Charles McConnell, retired superintendent for Jackson County Schools and one of the founders of the NCS program.

McConnell recounted how he and then president of SCC, Dr. Barrie Russell, were concerned about the need to ensure young people in Jackson, Macon and Swain counties stayed in school and went on to earn a college education.

"The idea was for our community to support you and make sure you get an education,” McConnell told the group. “In 1995 Dr. Russell and I went to visit 51 businesses in the area and 50 of them gave us $500 each to start the program.”
McConnell said that he and Russell then met with SCC staff to determine the specifics of the program and how to get started. After it was established that the program would provide scholarship funds for each student accepted into the program to go on to SCC tuition free, “Western Carolina University came forward and said that if you would earn your associate degree at SCC, then WCU would continue with the scholarship for two more years at Western.”

McConnell touted Haire as, “The one person most responsible for then making sure the program succeeded. She’s been the backbone of this program from day one.”

The New Century Scholars Program began in 1995 and is now a collaborative educational effort among the public schools in Macon, Jackson and Swain counties and Southwestern Community College. The program targets "high potential" students at the end of sixth grade and provides extra support to those students through their middle school and high school years.

Students are nominated based on their potential for academic success, yearly promotion and leadership ability. Selected students must display effort in the classroom and have a positive attitude and desire for education, have good behavior and character, meet the county attendance policy, and perform 10 hours per year of community service.

Upon completion of high school, each student is awarded a tuition scholarship for each of his/her two years at Southwestern Community College.

Western Carolina University has added a guaranteed scholarship that enables students who complete the NCS program and earn an Associates Degree at SCC to continue their education at the University for two years and earn a Bachelors Degree.

Initiative training exercises for New Century Scholars complement educational support and volunteer service opportunities by helping students build self-esteem and gain leadership skills. Team building activities during the middle school years help to increase group dynamics; and in high school, high ropes and rock climbing courses challenge Scholars in a physical way. These individual challenges expand the Scholar's trust of others, critical thinking skills, self-reliance, and limit setting.

The number of scholarships awarded each year depends on the number of sponsorships contributed by Jackson County citizens, organizations and businesses. Sponsors contribute $500 per tuition scholarship each year.

To learn more about the NCS scholarship program, visit the SCC web site at www.southwesterncc.edu. For more information on contributing to the program, contact Sonja Haynes at SCC at 800.447.4091 or 828.586.4091, extension 218, or Patty Wilson at pwilson@email.jcps.k12.nc.us.

###