The Foundation of the Country Club of North Carolina has launched two initiatives that will give staff members and/or their families financial support for post-high school education endeavors. This year’s honorees are not too far from North Carolina.
“The Foundation adeptly manages and enhances the Employee Assistance Fund, and these financial aid opportunities are all part of how CCNC gives back to our staff and the Sandhills community,” said CCNC COO/GM Don Hunter. “While we love being recognized for our golf and food and beverage operations, we want to make sure that our staff knows that we care about them and their families. These educational dollars speak volumes to that spirit.”
The 2023 beneficiaries of the Scholarship Initiative, which offers $6,000 annually for a maximum of four years (or $24,000), are both University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill students.
Diego Juarez, a sophomore at UNC majoring in biology with a possible minor in religion, comes from Aberdeen. His father, Gonzala Mendoza, worked as a housekeeper for 12 years. Juarez hopes to become a pharmacist. Of his four brothers, he is the fourth to go to college.
“My first year, I had the feeling of the financial weight on my shoulders,” Juarez said. “Now, I can focus entirely on my studies. I have the feeling that I need to do better now because people have given faith in me. I need to respect that faith and carry through what they expect of me. I’d like to express my tremendous gratitude toward the CCNC donors who have helped make my college possible and my career path possible. It’s an amazing feeling to know that so many people are behind me and pushing me forward. I thank them a lot.”
Sabrina Shaw, of Pinebluff, the daughter of 10-year grounds staff member Kenneth Shaw, is a sophomore majoring in advertising and public relations and considering a minor in creative writing.
“The CCNC Foundation scholarship has really implemented a spark for me to continue all the great things UNC has provided for me,” Shaw said. “As a first-generation college student, this is not a possibility for a lot of people. It almost wasn’t for me. So, I really appreciate all the donors of the CCNC Foundation scholarship for making this whole idea possible for me.
The Sandhills Community College Guarantee Program was created to pay for CCNC employees’ tuition and supplies, which are not covered by financial assistance packages.
This year’s awardees are Julia Graves, who started her nursing program at Sandhills C.C. this autumn, and Angela McLean, who is pursuing her nursing degree.
After the Foundation presents candidates from the application process, an outside committee chooses the awardees.
In 2023, the CCNC Foundation threw an ice cream party for kids in pre-K through grade 12 to provide them supplies for school for the third time. Ice cream and much-needed school supplies were provided throughout the ceremony.