The Wayne Community College Foundation Scholarship Invitational had another banner year.
The event netted $203,000, all of which goes to WCC students for scholarships for the 2018-2019 academic year.
“This year’s Scholarship Invitational’s net results surprised us all,” said Foundation of Wayne Community College Executive Director Adrienne Northington.
“Our sponsorship giving along with the live auction proceeds increased this year, propelling our earnings to $203,000,” Mrs. Northington said. “Kudos go to our golf and auction committee and the leadership of first-year chairman, Justin McLamb, and the continued support of Jackson & Sons as scholarship invitational sponsor for the 11th year in a row.”
The total raised in the event’s 26-year history is more than $1.9 million, which has assisted more than 2,700 students with their educations at WCC.
The Invitational’s live and silent auctions and golf tournament, which were held in June at Walnut Creek Country Club, combined with sponsorships and donations, resulted in the record-breaking take. Last year’s tournament brought in more than $184,000.
More than 100 businesses and individuals served as sponsors for this year’s tournament at 12 financial levels. Dozens of people and businesses donated items for the auctions that drew more than $36,000 in bids. Students and employees at the college provided a volunteer workforce throughout the event.
Jackson and Sons Heating and Air Conditioning continues to return as the Invitational Sponsor because “this event is all about giving,” said co-owner David Jackson. “The community giving back so those in need have a chance at success. The faculty and staff giving their best to teach, encourage, and prepare the students to succeed. And the students giving their best effort so they can become contributors to the local community.”
“It all makes a great circle, and is why this event is so important to Wayne County and why its success continues year after year. It makes a difference in the lives of so many, and has a positive ‘ripple effect’ through the community,” Jackson said.
WCC President Thomas A. Walker Jr. concurred on the event’s impact. “I see what the scholarships funded by this event do for the lives of our students, this community, and beyond. The impact is much greater than the monetary value of the sponsor and donor contributions.”
During the 2017-2018 academic year, the Foundation awarded a total of 647 scholarships worth $404,330 for tuition, testing fees, books, and tools. The Invitational is the Foundation’s largest single source of funds for those scholarships.
This year’s event sponsors were
Invitational Sponsor: Jackson and Sons Heating and Air Conditioning
Diamond Sponsors: Benton & Sons Fabrication, Eastern Building Supply, Bonnie and Bill Hunter, Korschun Foundation, R.A. Bryan Foundation Inc., R.A. Jeffreys Distributing Company LLC, Annalean and Ed Reeves, and Wells Fargo Bank
Platinum Sponsors: Drs. Kay and Woody Albertson, Alta Foods LLC, Andy’s Foundation, AP Exhaust Technologies Inc., Branch Banking & Trust Co., Fran and Larry Boyce, Case Farms, CopyPro, Deacon Jones Auto Group, First Citizens Bank, Follett Bookstore, Georgia Pacific Plywood Division, Ivey’s Spring Creek Farm, Mt. Olive Pickle Company, Ryerson, Southern Bank, Union Bank, Wayne UNC Health Care, Woodard Realty, Wooten Development Company
Scholarship Sponsors: Anchor Coupling Inc., Arnold Wilbert Vault, AT&T, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices McMillen and Associates Realty, Best Distributing Company, Daniels and Daniels Construction Company, Dr. Deborah K. Fulbright, Goldsboro Builders Supply, Goldsboro Skin Center, Home Health and Hospice Care Inc., Horne Moving Systems Inc., Cathy and Tom Howell, Beth and Jack Kannan, Piedmont Natural Gas, PNC Bank, Precision Plumbing, Professional Data Management Inc., Ram Rent-All, Select Bank & Trust, Seymour Funeral Home and Cremation, Tands Inc./Bojangles’, The Borden Fund Inc., Jerry Tysinger, Wayne Electric Company, Wayne Realty & Insurance Co. Inc., Wells Fargo Advisors, In Memory of Dr. Ross Wilson
Gold Sponsors: Baddour, Parker, Hine & Hale PC, BB&T Insurance Services Inc., Best Commercial Development LLC, Jason M. Blackburn Attorney at Law PLLC, Carr, Riggs, and Ingram CPAs and Advisors, E.J. Pope & Sons Inc., Goldsboro Physical Therapy, Lee and Geoff Hulse, KS Bank, North Carolina Community Federal Credit Union, Dr. Victoria Samuels, Strickland, Agner, & Associates Attorneys and Counselors at Law, Strickland Insurance Brokers, Toyota of Goldsboro, Warren, Kerr, Walston, Taylor, & Smith LLP
Hole Sponsors: Asphalt Services LLC, Banks, Gray, and Crumpler PLLC, Barwick Lawn Care, Carolina Family Pool & Patio, Evergreen Memorial Services Inc., First Command, Dr. Tony Hamm, Hartford Mutual Funds, Hine Sitework Inc., Jackie Houser, Institutional Interiors Inc., McArthur Properties, Life Inc., Nunn, Brashear, & Uzzell PA, Pizza Inn of Goldsboro, Sutton’s Safety Shoes Inc., George Whitfield, Dr. Edward H. Wilson Jr.
Blue Sponsors: Chick-fil-A, Coca-Cola Bottling Co., Culligan Water, Dr. Tony Hamm, Parker and Parker PA CPA, Pepsi Bottling Ventures, Riley Outdoor LLC, S&D Coffee Inc., Southco Distributing Company, Tands Inc./Bojangles’
Caddy Sponsors: Candace Jones and Elizabeth McLean, North Carolina Manufacturing Inc., Penny and Kenneth Ritt
Hole in One Sponsor: Janney Montgomery Scott LLC, Jeff Jackson
Corporate Dinner Sponsor: Janney Montgomery Scott LLC
Invitational Breakfast Sponsor: Tands Inc./Bojangles’
Invitational Lunch Sponsor: Chick-fil-A of Goldsboro
Wooten Oil Company founded the event in 1993 as a way to contribute to a cause that would use all of the money raised locally. Dillon Wooten and his business Wooten Development Company continue to be involved in it.
The Foundation of Wayne Community College is a non-profit organization that works to broaden the base of community support for educational opportunities at the college. In addition to providing scholarships, it funds innovative campus projects and employee recognition, and offers cultural programs for the community.
Wayne Community College is a public, learning-centered institution with an open-door admission policy located in Goldsboro, N.C. As it works to develop a highly skilled and competitive workforce, the college serves 12,000 individuals annually as well as businesses, industry, and community organizations with high quality, affordable, accessible learning opportunities, including more than 70 college credit programs. WCC’s mission is to meet the educational, training, and cultural needs of the communities it serves.