Wilkes Community College Foundation Hosts Inaugural Scholarship Breakfast Honoring Students and Donors
Wilkesboro, N.C. – Wilkes Community College Foundation hosted its inaugural Morning of Gratitude Scholarship Breakfast on Friday, August 14, 2026, bringing together student scholars, scholarship donors, college leaders, and community supporters to celebrate the generosity that helps make a college education possible for students throughout Wilkes, Ashe, and Alleghany counties.
The event opened with an invocation from Ashley Van Hoy, Financial Aid Counselor at Wilkes Community College, setting the tone for a morning focused on appreciation and the impact of scholarships on students’ lives.
Allison Phillips, Vice President of Institutional Advancement of Wilkes Community College, welcomed the student scholars and donors and recognized the connection between those who provide scholarships and the students whose lives are changed by their generosity.
“Scholarships do more than help pay for college,” Phillips said. “They give our students an opportunity to focus on their education, pursue their goals, and build a future for themselves and their families.”
Wilkes Community College President Dr. Mike Rodgers spoke about the importance of continued philanthropic support, and the role scholarships play in strengthening the communities the college serves.
“Every gift matters because every student matters,” Rodgers said. “When we eliminate financial barriers to education, we create opportunities for students to succeed, and those students go on to make the communities of Wilkes, Ashe and Alleghany stronger.”
The breakfast provided an opportunity for scholarship recipients to meet and thank the individuals, families, organizations, and businesses whose support makes scholarships available at Wilkes Community College. Those scholarships that were recognized include: Adrienne Necessary Memorial Endowed Scholarship, Chris Austin Music Endowed Scholarship, Gertrude Elliot Allied Health Endowed Scholarship, Grace and Greene Schepherd Endowed Scholarship, Greg Edwards Memorial Endowed Scholarship, Rendezvous Mtn DAR/Elizabeth Cowles Finley Memorial Endowed Scholarship, Terry Bumgarner Memorial Endowed Scholarship, Vulcan Materials Scholarship, and Wykstra Endowed Scholarship.
For many students, financial assistance can be the difference between putting their educational goals on hold and being able to enroll, remain in school and complete a credential or degree.
The Morning of Gratitude reflects Wilkes Community College’s commitment to recognizing the generosity of its donors while celebrating the students who benefit from their support. Through scholarships and other forms of financial assistance, WCC works to ensure that financial circumstances do not prevent qualified students from pursuing an education and preparing for a career.
Wilkes Community College is grateful to the donors whose continued support helps students take the next step toward their educational and career goals.
For more information about WCC Foundation scholarships, or to see how your gift can impact students and our community, contact Kristen Phipps at kd*********@******cc.edu, 336-838-6128, or visit www.wilkescc.edu/giving.
