Wicomico Forms Impact Scholarship To Help Students Attend Wor-Wic

Wicomico Forms Impact Scholarship To Help Students Attend Wor-Wic
Wicomico

SALISBURY – At a ceremony on Tuesday, Wicomico County Executive Bob Culver presented a $265,000 check to the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore (CFES) establishing the Wicomico Economic Impact Scholarship for county students to attend Wor-Wic Community College.

He also announced that two private businesses have pledged $30,000 for the fund, and he will work to ensure more private funding for the scholarship. First Shore Federal and the Avery Hall Insurance Group have each made multi-year pledges totaling $15,000 each ($5,000 a year for three years), Culver announced.

“The business community has supported this program from the beginning,” Culver said. “I am so pleased they are stepping up to help fund it. We want this scholarship program to be successful for the economic future of Wicomico County. I am hopeful the entire community will embrace the program and help make it a success, because everyone will benefit from it.”

Culver proposed the Wicomico Economic Impact Scholarship earlier this year to help ensure an educated workforce for local businesses. In fact, 90 percent of Wor-Wic students stay in the community and contribute to the local economy.

For those eligible, the scholarship will cover the full cost of tuition and fees (not books) at the community college. For this year’s class of graduating seniors, the deadline to apply for the scholarship is July 29.

“The intent of the program is to increase the percent of population with a college degree, improve the level of education and training to help our businesses be more competitive and reduce the brain drain in our community,” said Dr. Ray Hoy, president of Wor-Wic Community College. “The college is prepared to support students who may not have ever considered college before, but will have an opportunity due to this program.”

The scholarship was established at the CFES, where it will be managed and distributed to the college for each eligible student.

“At CFES we know the impact from scholarships to support and inspire local students,” said CFES President Erica Joseph. “We commend the county for its investment in education and for creating this opportunity for public-private partnership to make higher education a reality for all Wicomico County graduates.”

To qualify for county-supported tuition and fees, students must have been a Wicomico County resident for two years, have completed all high school graduation requirements and have annual family income of $75,000 or less. In order to receive the scholarship, students must register for 12 credits per semester and maintain a 2.0 GPA.

To be eligible, students must complete a Wor-Wic Community College Application, complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA); and complete application information for the Wicomico Economic Impact Scholarship.

The Wor-Wic Community College Application and FAFSA can be completed online at www.WorWic.edu. To get started, contact Wor-Wic at 410-334- 2800 or send an e-mail to Dr. Deirdra Johnson at [email protected].