The Swain County GEAR UP Scholarship
Program provides last-dollar
tuition awards to selected
students who have participated
in Southwestern Community
College’s GEAR UP Program
while enrolled in Swain County
Schools. GEAR UP director
Del Ruff award’s this
year’s scholarship to
graduating senior Virginia
Lea Fuller. Students selected
for a Swain County GEAR UP
Scholarship are awarded funds
to cover the cost of tuition
and fees at Southwestern Community
College for the fall semester
immediately following graduation
from high school. Selected
students must enroll full-time
at SCC. Funding for the Swain
County GEAR UP Scholarship
Program is awarded by the
Swain County Commissioners.
Fuller plans to study nursing
at SCC. She has been a member
of Health Occupations Students
of America for the past two
years and is now the club
president. She has interned
with Swain County Hospital’s
Radiology Department and Sylva
Pediatrics. Currently she
is working at the Bryson City
Living Center and plans to
become a registered nurse.
