Scholarships/Important Information
POSTED 2/3/2025: Did you play Dixie Youth Baseball? This is the league the KM YMCA participates in.
Dixie Youth Scholarship: Applicant must be a senior in high school and must have participated in a DIXIE YOUTH BASEBALL program when twelve years old or younger. Applicant’s ability as an athlete will not be a factor in awarding scholarships. Please be aware – NCAA rules may prohibit acceptance of this scholarship if a student will be participating in an athletic program in college -check with college prior to applying for this scholarship.
Deadline to submit application and supporting documentation to the Dixie Youth committee is March 1, 2025. The application can be found by linking on the link below.
https://dybusa.org/MediaContent//2024/08/16/09/2025_Youth_Scholarship_Application_243153.pdf
POSTED 1/28/25: Jonathan Peeler Memorial Scholarship: The friends of Jonathan Peeler will give a scholarship of $500 (up to $1000 depending on funding) to a Cleveland County high school senior who plans to attend a 4 year accredited college or university, junior college, or a community college. The scholarship will be given to an individual who has demonstrated exceptional qualifications as defined by the committee. The scholarship is not limited to any particular field of study, but preference will be given to vocational students studying drafting or a related field. The award will be based on need, character, educational goals, citizenship, participation in extracurricular activities and volunteer work.
Click HERE to download the application. Hard copies of the application are on my office door.
The deadline to turn the completed application in is Friday, February 28, 2025.
POSTED 1/27/25: North Carolina Community Foundation Disaster Relief and Resilience Scholarship - Provide support for residents of western North Carolina counties whose ability to pay for college or university has been adversely impacted by Hurricane Helene. This scholarship is open to undergraduate and graduate students attending two- or four-year colleges. The deadline to apply is March 3, 2025.
Click HERE to view informational flyer.
POSTED 1/27/25: This is a unique scholarship so please make sure that you read the instructions carefully.
The KM Student Scholarship fund will be awarding FOUR $1,000 "Grow your future" scholarships to KMHS seniors. Seniors will be allowed to pick one vial of vegetable seeds and put their name into a drawing to be selected. Ten student names will be selected and those ten will have the opportunity to grow vegetables from seeds during a 6 week period. The NC Extension Office will judge the vegetable plants and select four scholarship winners. If you are interested please stop by my office to put your "name in the hat" to be considered. If your name is selected you will be provided with a vial of seeds, container, and dirt. The deadline to pick your vial of seeds is Friday, February 7th.
I will be in and out of my office a lot because of registration. If you stop by and I am not in my office please sign your name on the "grow your future" form that will be posted on my office door. Sign your name that you are interested and I will follow up with you as soon as I can.
ONLY 100 SENIORS CAN SIGN UP TO PARTICIPATE. This opportunity will be first come, first served.
POSTED 1/21/25: The Extension Master Gardener Association of Cleveland County is committed to sustainable gardening, soil health, environmental soundness, and community involvement. We support education and outreach to local growers of food, flowers, shrubs, and trees. In offering this scholarship, we hope to further the education of young people who share our values.
This $1,000 scholarship is available to a high school senior in the Cleveland County School District who is preparing to enter post-secondary education in the fall of 2025.
To qualify, the student must:
Have a grade point average of 2.5 or higher.
Plan to major in horticulture, agriculture, plant science, botany, forestry,landscape architecture/design, or another branch of the agricultural sciences.
Include a letter of recommendation from a teacher who has taught this student within the last two years.
Include a letter of recommendation from a non-related personal reference.
Include a transcript listing courses taken and grades received, for sevensemesters.
Be accepted into an accredited two- or four-year college or university and be enrolled for the fall of 2025.
This application must be mailed and postmarked on or before March 1, 2025.
Mail the signed application along with the transcript and the letters of recommendation to:
Cleveland County Cooperative Extension Office
Attn. MG Scholarship
130 S. Post Rd. Suite 1
Shelby, N.C. 28152
Click HERE to download the application.
If you need help printing out this application please let me know.
POSTED 1/17/25: This scholarship is only for a NC public university and you or your parent(s) MUST be members of the State Employees Credit Union (SECU).
The SECU "People Helping People" Scholarship worth $10,000 (payable at $1,250 per semester) is for seniors in North Carolina who plan to attend one of the 16 constituent campuses of the UNC system. Applicants must be a U.S. citizen and resident of North Carolina. Applicants must also have at least a 2.5 unweighted GPA and have demonstrated leadership, excellence of character, integrity and community involvement. Applicants must be a member of SECU or be eligible for membership through a parent or guardian.
***If you are interested in applying you must ELECTRONICALLY submit the completed application to me by Friday, February 28, 2025.
To start the application process you must verify you are a member of SECU. Please click HERE to start the process. Click on the link at the top of page 1 and follow the instructions. Once you are verified you will receive an email with the application. You will need to upload a copy of your college acceptance letter as part of the process.
***KMHS can nominate four students to compete for this scholarship. A committee at CCS Central Services will conduct the interviews in March for our nominees.
POSTED 1/17/25: The Mary Rose Mills-Linda Rankin Memorial Scholarship is open to any student who is currently graduating from an accredited public high school in North Carolina that follows the NC Standard Course of Study and who expects to enroll in a four-year college or university next fall. Specific eligibility requirements are: Academic ranking top 10% of class, Minimum SAT score of 1290 or ACT composite score of 27, good character and participation in extracurricular activities (school and community). Financial need is not the primary consideration. Submit by Saturday, March 1st, 2025 11:59 PM
Mary Rose Mills - Linda Rankin Memorial Scholarship 2025 Application
POSTED 1/17/25: The Eunice Riggins Memorial Scholarship is open to any young woman who is currently graduating from an accredited public high school in North Carolina that follows the NC Standard Course of Study and who expects to enroll in a four-year college or university in North Carolina next fall. Specific eligibility requirements are: Academic rank in top 10% of class, Minimum SAT score of 1220 or ACT composite score of 25, good character and participation in extracurricular activities (school and community). Financial need is not the primary consideration. Submit by Saturday, March 1st, 2025 11:59 PM
Eunice Riggins Memorial Scholarship 2025 Application
POSTED 1/17/25: The Clare Johnson Marley-Mary Earle Berger Fine Arts Scholarship is open to any student who is currently graduating from an accredited public high school in North Carolina that follows the NC Standard Course of Study and who expects to enroll in a four-year college or university next fall, and who is declaring his/her major in an area of the fine arts. Specific eligibility requirements are: Academic rank in top 20% of class, Minimum SAT score of 1220 or ACT composite score of 25, good character and participation in extracurricular activities (school and
community). Financial need is not the primary consideration. (Samples of talent are required to be submitted with the application.) Submit by Saturday, March 1st, 2025 11:59 PM
The Clare Johnson Marley - Mary Earle Berger Fine Arts Scholarship 2025 Application
POSTED 1/14/25: Mi Pueblito Memorial Scholarship on behalf of Cindy Cope and Rodrigo Chavez. This is a new opportunity designed to support graduating high schoolers as they pursue workforce-oriented careers in fields that embody the values of care, connection, and cultural appreciation.
Mi Pueblito will be awarding three (3) $500 scholarships with the aim to uplift students who may not always be at the top of the class but demonstrate the passion, drive, and potential to make a meaningful impact in their communities. Students must live in either Rutherford or Cleveland Counties in North Carolina.
Key Information:
Submission Deadline: March 31, 2025
Award Notification: April 2025
How to Apply: Complete the attached application packet and submit all materials to info@mipubs.com or by mail to:
Mi Pueblito
139 South Washington St.
Rutherfordton, NC 28139
Click HERE to download a copy of the application.
If you need help printing out the application please let me know.
POSTED 1/9/25: IF YOU PLAN TO APPLY FOR THIS SCHOLARSHIP PLEASE LET ME KNOW SO I CAN SUBMIT YOUR TRANSCRIPT.
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority INC., continues to focus on education with an emphasis on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
The LINDA HECKSTALL HOOKER Scholarship is awarded in memory of Linda Heckstall Hooker, a proud graduate of Norfolk State University in Norfolk, Virginia. She loved her community, education, as well as, encouraging others to expand their love of reading.
This scholarship will assist in providing funds to an undergraduate young woman exhibiting high academic achievement who plans to further their education at an accredited HBCU (Historically Black College or University).
This scholarship will pay $1000 to attend a four-year HBCU.
ELIGIBILITY
Student must be a female graduating high school senior.
Student must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0.
Student must be enrolled as full-time student in college.
Student must attend a four-year accredited HBCU.
The scholarship must be taken in the first year following the student graduating from high school.
The scholarship is eligible starting with the Fall 2025 semester.
The scholarship will be paid directly to the college or university following verification of student enrollment at the institution.
Use of Scholarship:
Tuition
Books
Room and board
APPLICATION PACKET must include:
Completed application form
Essay- Topic is included in scholarship application.
Two letters of recommendation.
Letters must include the applicant’s name, as well as the letter writer’s full name, title, address, e-mail address, current telephone number, and signature.
Email letters to scholarship@omegasigmaomegaaka.org. Letters of recommendation must be received by email on or before April 11, 2025.
Official transcript with the application should be uploaded. Must be submitted by a School Counselor only.
APPLICATION/SELECTION DATES
The deadline for submitting applications and supporting documents is April 11, 2025.
Submit supporting documentation to scholarship@omegasigmaomegaaka.org. Applications will not be considered if all supporting documentation is not submitted with the application.
A congratulatory letter will be sent to the award recipient(s).
Click HERE for the 2025 Scholarship Application.
POSTED 1/9/25: IF YOU PLAN TO APPLY FOR THIS SCHOLARSHIP PLEASE LET ME KNOW SO I CAN SUBMIT YOUR TRANSCRIPT.
The purpose of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Omega Sigma Omega Chapter Scholarship is to assist in providing funds to undergraduate young women exhibiting high academic achievement who plan to further their education at an accredited four year college or university.
This scholarship will pay $1000 to attend a four-year college or university.
ELIGIBILITY
Student must be a female graduating high school senior.
Student must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0.
Student must be enrolled as a full-time student in college.
Student must attend a four-year accredited college or university.
The scholarship must be taken in the first year following the student graduating from high school.
The scholarship is eligible starting with the Fall 2025 semester.
The scholarship will be paid directly to the college or university following verification of student enrollment at the institution.
Use of Scholarship:
Tuition
Books
Room and board
APPLICATION PACKET must include:
Completed application form
Essay- Topic is included in scholarship application.
Two letters of recommendation.
Letters must include the applicant’s name, as well as the letter writer’s full name, title, address, e-mail address, current telephone number, and signature.
Email letters to scholarship@omegasigmaomegaaka.org. Letters of recommendation must be received by email on or before April 11, 2025.
Official transcript with the application should be uploaded. Must be submitted by a School Counselor only.
APPLICATION/SELECTION DATES
The deadline for submitting applications and supporting documents is April 11, 2025.
Submit supporting documentation to scholarship@omegasigmaomegaaka.org. Applications will not be considered if supporting all documentation is not submitted with the application.
A congratulatory letter will be sent to the award recipient(s).
Click HERE for the 2025 Scholarship Application.
POSTED 1/9/25: Cleveland Community College provides scholarships in the areas of merit (grades), financial need, and for certain program areas.
Please follow the instructions if you plan to apply for their scholarships.
Step 1 - Submit application for admission to CCC. Once you submit your application you will receive an email providing you with instructions on how to set up your My Cleveland account. https://clevelandcc.edu/admissions/how-to-apply/
Step 2 - Complete the FAFSA application.
Apply for a FSA ID - https://studentaid.gov/fsa-id/create-account/launch
Complete FAFSA application. Login using FSA ID username and password - https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa
Step 3 - Complete CCC Scholarship application - you will need your CCC ID that will be created after Step 1. https://app.smarterselect.com/programs/100947-Cleveland-Community-College
The deadline to apply is April 1, 2025.
Please let me know if you need any help.
POSTED 1/8/25: Caballeros de Charlotte Scholarship - The Charlotte Knights and Compass Group are dedicated to providing educational opportunities to the youth in our communities.
To improve educational funding for high school students from Hispanic/Latin backgrounds the Charlotte Knights and Compass Group have committed to providing two $1,000 college scholarships to local high school seniors.
To be considered for this year’s scholarship class, please complete the following application.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS SCHOLARSHIP REQUIRES A COUNSELOR REPORT. SO THAT MEANS YOU NEED TO LET ME KNOW IN PLENTY OF TIME IF YOU ARE APPLYING FOR THIS SCHOLARSHIPS.
The deadline to apply is 11:59 PM on Monday, April 7th, 2025. Additional materials must be postmarked by this date.
Download the guidance counselor form here.
POSTED 1/8/25: Piedmont Natural Gas STEM Scholarship - The Charlotte Knights and Piedmont Natural Gas are committed to supporting education in our communities.
To improve educational funding for high school students interested in pursuing a career in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math), the Knights and Piedmont Natural Gas have committed to providing three $1,000 college scholarships to local high school students.
To be considered for this year’s scholarship class, please complete the following application.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS SCHOLARSHIP REQUIRES A COUNSELOR REPORT. SO THAT MEANS YOU NEED TO LET ME KNOW IN PLENTY OF TIME IF YOU ARE APPLYING FOR THIS SCHOLARSHIPS.
The deadline to apply is 11:59 PM on Monday, April 7th, 2025. Additional materials must be postmarked by this date.
Download the guidance counselor form here.
POSTED 1/8/25: Atrium Health Scholarship - The Charlotte Knights and Atrium Health are dedicated to providingeducational opportunities to the youth in our communities.
To improve education funding for high school students interested in pursuing a career in healthcare, the Knights and Atrium Health have committed to providing three $1,000 college scholarships to local high school seniors.
To be considered for this year’s scholarship class, please complete the application.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS SCHOLARSHIP REQUIRES A COUNSELOR REPORT. SO THAT MEANS YOU NEED TO LET ME KNOW IN PLENTY OF TIME IF YOU ARE APPLYING FOR THIS SCHOLARSHIPS.
The deadline to apply is 11:59 PM on Monday, April 7th, 2025. Additional materials must be postmarked by this date.
Download the guidance counselor form here.
POSTED 1/7/25: The Cecilia Music Club Scholarship is for seniors in Cleveland County. The scholarship is awarded to a talented student in any area of applied music. This scholarship MUST BE USED for private lessons on the college level in the area in which the scholarship is given. The scholarship must be used within 24 months from the time it is awarded.
It is not required that applicants major in Music in college to apply for this scholarship. It can be for any major.
Click HERE to download a copy of the application. If you need help printing the application please let me know.
The deadline to return your completed application to Mrs. Cruise for mailing is Thursday, February 27th. If you mail the application it must be received by the chairman of the committee by March 6th. The address is on the application.
Auditions will be held March 13th at 3:30 PM at Shelby Presbyterian Church.
POSTED 1/7/25: The Michael A. DeMayo Scholarship Program will award 10, $5,000.00 college scholarships to high school seniors to continue their secondary education. Must have a 3.0 GPA. Each year the firm's scholarship committee selects students based on their grades, school and community involvement, SAT or ACT scores (optional), and a presentation that encourages fellow teens to abstain from underage drinking and driving and highlights the dangers and consequences of drinking and driving. Paper applications are available in Mrs. Cruise's office. They can also be downloaded at https://demayolaw.com/scholarship-program/.
All entries must be postmarked on or before midnight on March 24, 2025.
POSTED 12/7/25: Abbott and Fenner Scholarship Program
Abbott & Fenner Business Consultants are pleased to be able to continue with our scholarship program for the 19th year.
We will be awarding $1,000 to the winner(s) each year.
Scholarship Deadline - June 10, 2025.
Application Process
Students will submit an essay on the topic that appears on the scholarship page of our web site: https://abbottandfenner.com/scholarships.php
Full details are available on our site.
POSTED 12/6/24: Established by the North Carolina General Assembly in 2011, the Forgivable Education Loans for Service provides financial assistance to qualified students enrolled in an approved education program and committed to working in critical employment shortage professions in North Carolina. The North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority provides administration for the program. For the 2025-2026 academic year the approved degree programs and approved institutions can be found via the Scholarship Resource Section.
Eligibility
Be a legal North Carolina resident and NC resident for tuition purposes
Your North Carolina residency status is checked automatically with the Residency Determination Service (RDS) in an overnight process once you submit your FELS application. If applicants haven’t completed residency determination, they may do so at the North Carolina Residency Determination Service Website.
At the time of application, present a cumulative minimum grade point average (GPA) of:
3.00 for graduating high school students (weighted GPA)
2.80 for undergraduate students pursuing an associate or bachelor's degree
Recipients must not be in default, or does not owe a refund, under any federal or State loan or grant program
Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress according to the enrolling policy of the institution
Be willing to work in NC in a designated critical employment shortage profession
Must plan to enroll at least part-time in a FELS Approved Program at a FELS Eligible Institution
Application Requirements
Complete a FELS Application
The 2025 application will open on Monday, January 6. Applications will be entered into a lottery for award consideration.
If you are seeking your associate's or bachelor’s degree, provide a copy of your transcript with your application.
Other Information
FELS loan recipients must sign a promissory note that will require them to seek loan forgiveness through employment in an approved position or repay the loan in cash. Loan forgiveness is described in the FELS Rules. Generally, a loan for one academic year will be forgiven for one year of full-time employment. Loans will accrue interest at the rate of 7% per year from the date of the loan disbursement. Recipients cannot receive FELS funding concurrently with other state-funded loans.
For bachelor's degree programs, priority is given to juniors and seniors who have been accepted into the program (or who will be accepted by the start of the fall semester).
POSTED 12/6/24: The Golden LEAF Colleges and Universities Scholarship is designed to assist current North Carolina high school seniors and North Carolina community college transfer students. Recipients must be from certain rural counties, plan to attend a participating North Carolina college or university, demonstrate financial need, and express an intent to return to a rural North Carolina community upon college graduation. The scholarship is funded by the Golden LEAF Foundation through a grant to the North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority.
Eligibility
Be a North Carolina resident for tuition purposes and reside in a qualifying rural North Carolina County as identified by the Golden LEAF Foundation
Applicants must complete residency determination at the North Carolina Residency Determination Service Website
Be a graduating North Carolina high school senior or a currently enrolled North Carolina community college transfer student enrolling full-time (degree seeking) in the fall at a participating North Carolina public or private college/university
Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5
Demonstrate financial aid need as determined by the application process; have a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Student Aid Index (SAI) that does not exceed $15,000
Express an intent to return to a rural North Carolina community upon college graduation
Application Requirements
Complete and submit a full electronic Golden LEAF Colleges and Universities application
Submit an electronic copy of academic transcript that has final grades for most recent Fall semester
Complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the appropriate school year.
The deadline to submit the application is March 1, 2025.
Other Information
The scholarship provides $3,500 a year for up to four years to high school seniors and $3,500 a year for up to three years to community college transfer students. Students who have previously attended a college or university outside of dual enrollment (high school and college at the same time) are not eligible for consideration.
POSTED 11/20/24: In 2017, King Law started the King Law Gives Back Scholarship Program, awarding $1,000 scholarships annually to seniors in Western North Carolina and Upstate South Carolina. This year, we'll select three seniors for $1,000 scholarships, aiming to invest in the local community and support academic goals while recognizing leadership qualities.
Applicants are required to submit an essay to our team and recipients are selected based on their college plans, career goals, and creative writing.
Eligibility Requirements:
Applicants must live and attend high school in a county where a King Law location is established. For a complete list of our locations please visit our website listed below.
Must be a high school senior.
Plan to enroll at an accredited post-secondary education institution during the academic year following high school graduation, Fall 2025.
Submit a written personal essay via our online application on the following topic: "Small towns. Big relationships." Describe what this means to you and why it is a part of who you are.
To apply for the King Law Gives Back Scholarship Program visit:
https://kinglawoffices.com/giving-back/college-scholarships/
Application Deadline: March 31, 2025
POSTED 11/20/24: Eddie G.G. Burton Scholarship - The Charlotte Knights and Gaile Dry-Burton are dedicated to providing educational opportunities to the youth in our communities.
To improve educational funding for high school students attending a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) the Knights and Gaile Dry-Burton are committed to providing two $1,000 college scholarships to local high school seniors.
Please note your Guidance Counselor will be required to physically mail your sealed transcript and guidance counselor report to:
Charlotte Knights
Attn: Eddie G.G. Burton Scholarship
324 S Mint St.
Charlotte, NC 28202
The deadline to apply is 11:59 PM on Monday, February 17th, 2025. Additional materials must be postmarked by this date.
Failure to submit supporting documents such as a transcript, letters of recommendation, ACT/SAT scores and guidance counselor forms by the deadline, will deem the application ineligible.
***Please let me know if you plan to apply so I can submit your transcript and counselor report on time.
https://share.hsforms.com/1-LLuCKgXSnyMo0NYXRAQ9Acc994
POSTED 11/19/24: One KMHS senior will be awarded a $1,000 cash prize.
Do you have a plan to start a business? Do you already have a small business and would like to expand it?
The Cleveland County Chamber of Commerce is offering one senior from each Cleveland County High School the opportunity to win $1,000 if their entrepreneurial presentation is selected as a winner. In order to participate you will need to write one paragraph statement on What is an entrepreneur, create a business plan, and complete an application. The deadline to submit these items to the Cleveland County Chamber of commerce is March 15, 2025.
The top three business plans at KMHS will be selected to compete in a competition at Gardner-Webb University. You will need to be prepared to present a three minute "Shark Tank" style pitch. This will take place on April 7th.
Click HERE to download a copy of the application. I also have hard copies in my office.
POSTED 10/29/24: The Dover Scholarship is a merit based scholarship that is awarded each year to seniors in Cleveland County who want to attend any 4-year college. This year they will give out (2) $20,000, (5) $15,000, and (5) $10,000 scholarships. Of the 12 recipients 4 will be to Gardner-Webb and 8 will be for any other accredited college or university.
There are two categories of competition: 1) those seniors who have been accepted and want to attend Gardner-Webb University and 2) those seniors who want to attend ANY other college in the United States that they have been accepted to (you can only select ONE category).
Applicants are required to write a 500 word essay (you can select from 2 prompts) and submit two letters of recommendation (one from school personnel and one from the community). You are allowed to attach extra pages for the essay, but no "resume style" pages detailing your work, community involved, etc will be accepted.
The Dover Foundation will select students competing for the GWU category and students in the other college category from the area high school applicants to interview. Applicants that move forward in the competition will be required to attend an interview in late March or early April.
Please download the application and TYPE your answers in the fill-able PDF. I highly recommend you DO NOT USE YOUR CHROMEBOOK for this application. If you need access to a different computer please let me know. You are not allowed to attach a resume/data sheet.
Deadline to submit your Dover Scholarship application to Mrs. Cruise is Friday, February 21, 2025.
Click HERE to download the application.