An endeavor by members of Western Carolina University’s African American Alumni Society to create a new student scholarship fund at their alma mater has crossed the $25,000 threshold necessary to start providing financial assistance on an annual basis.

Formally launched in 2023, the society’s scholarship fund is now officially an endowment after nearly $5,500 in additional gifts from 48 donors poured in as part of a push in February during Black History Month, said Nia Blackwell, coordinator of affinity programs in WCU’s Office of Alumni Engagement.

The idea for the African American Alumni Society Endowed Scholarship was conceived back in 2019 shortly after the formation of the organization, said Eric Barnes, a 1984 graduate of WCU who serves as president of the society.

“The official kickoff was during Homecoming in 2023,” Barnes said. “Our vice president, Regina J. Moore, made the pitch during the Inspirational Gospel Choir’s anniversary celebration dinner that Saturday evening. We were off and running with her leadership of this very important initiative.”

After hearing that initial pitch to create the scholarship, WCU Chancellor Kelli Brown and her husband, Dennis, agreed to match the first $500 donated toward the fund, said Moore, a 1987 graduate of WCU.

“In less than 10 minutes, $4,500 was raised through a combination of giving and pledging that night,” Moore said. “We had five years to raise the $25,000 needed to endow the scholarship fund, and we completed the task in just 16 months.”

The fund is designed to provide scholarship support to rising juniors or seniors with financial need who demonstrate a commitment, whether on campus or in their home communities, to the core values of the society and the concept of equal opportunity for all.

“It is very important to us as leaders of this organization to be able to offer assistance to current and future students, as we are extremely aware of the financial hardships and obligations students incur at this time. We understand that WCU is a part of the NC Promise program that makes the tuition more affordable, but financial challenges still exist,” Barnes said. “We are hoping that our contributions will assist in enabling students to complete their degrees and move on being productive citizens in our society as a whole.”

NC Promise reduces the cost of tuition to $500 per semester for North Carolina residents and $2,500 per semester for students from out of state at selected institutions in the University of North Carolina System, including WCU.

Moore said that the goal of the AAAS scholarship is to assist students who may be in jeopardy of not returning to school because of a lack of funds.

“We have all been in a situation where a little help would have made a big difference,” she said. “Not being able to complete your education can be a huge setback. It takes some years to obtain their degree, and others never do. As we all know, higher education opens many doors that would otherwise be closed without it. The Western Carolina University African American Alumni Society Endowed Scholarship can now help to provide a clearer path to the next level of greatness.”

Getting the scholarship to the endowment level to begin providing financial assistance to students is a significant milestone made possible by the sacrifices of the entire Catamount nation of African American alumni and friends, Barnes said.

“The completion of the endowment during Black History Month was just icing on the cake as it demonstrated and acknowledged our contributions to the university over many years,” he said. “We know that we are critical members of the university – past, present and future.”

Moore agreed. “We, the African American Alumni Society board, set some goals for our two-year tenure. Endowing this scholarship was priority number one. Since this has never been done at Western Carolina University, it is extremely meaningful to be able to leave such a legacy at our alma mater,” she said. “We decided the best way to make the biggest statement, during Black History Month, was to end on the highest mountain peak possible.”

The African American Alumni Society officially formed in 2018. The affinity group’s mission is to facilitate networking opportunities between African American alumni and students, faculty and staff by hosting academic, professional and social programming and encouraging support of WCU’s advancement and development initiatives. It also serves as a resource for an exchange of career information and other networking opportunities.

Although the group has a focus on African American alumni, it is open to all members of the WCU community.

To make a contribution to the African American Alumni Society Endowed Scholarship, visit the website or mail a check made out to the WCU Foundation to the Western Carolina University Office of Alumni Engagement, 242 H.F. Robinson Building, 1 University Drive, Cullowhee, North Carolina, 28723; include “AAAS Scholarship” in the memo line.

The African American Alumni Society Endowed Scholarship has become fully endowed as WCU is in the midst of the public phase of its “Fill the Western Sky” comprehensive fundraising campaign, an effort to raise a minimum of $100 million in philanthropic support for the university’s academic, student engagement and athletics programs.

For more information or to make a contribution to the campaign, visit WesternSky.wcu.edu, call 828-227-7124 or email advancement@wcu.edu.