SCHOLARSHIP APPRECIATION EVENT Garner Lobby of the Dunn Center Thursday, February 27, 2025 Hosted by The Office of Advancement BRUNCH BATTLING BISHOPS
Dear Friends, With deep gratitude, we extend our heartfelt thanks to the generous donors and sponsors who make this event and so much more possible. Your support of North Carolina Wesleyan, our annual scholarships, and our endowments ensures a brighter future for students at Wesleyan. Your impact is immeasurable! To our scholarship recipients, know that those who invest in your education believe in your potential. Honor this opportunity with dedication and, when the time comes, we encourage you to pay it forward to help others. Thank you for making a difference. With appreciation, Mark H. Hinson VP of Advancement BATTLING BISHOPS BRUNCH Thank you for attending our 1st Annual
GOLD SPONSOR The North Carolina Conference is one of 53 conferences of The United Methodist Church in the United States. It encompasses 56 counties in eastern North Carolina, from Elon to the coast and from the South Carolina border to the Virginia border. The conference strives to create healthy congregations and effective leaders in every place, making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Learn more about the NC Conference at nccumc.org/about. The United Methodist Church is a worldwide connection of more than 12 million members in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the United States. We are the person next door, the church on the other side of the country, and the worshiping community across the globe. Together, we share a legacy of living as disciples of Jesus Christ, sharing God’s love both in what we say and how we serve our neighbors. "North Carolina Wesleyan is an affiliated higher education institution of The United Methodist Church, and we are proud to continue supporting our students, faculty, and staff. As people deeply rooted in the Wesleyan tradition, we are formed through reason, our experiences, scripture, and traditions. North Carolina Wesleyan provides these opportunities to students from around the globe, and we are excited to be a partner in this beautiful ministry. We are grateful to God for NC Wesleyan University and how they provide safe spaces to allow the Holy Spirit to renew our minds for the transformation of the world in the image of Jesus Christ." - The Rev. Dr. David Joyner District Superintendent, NC Conference of The United Methodist Church Heritage District Superintendent Senior Pastor, First United Methodist Church - Rocky Mount Social Media facebook.com/nccumc instagram.com/nccumc x.com/nccumc Website nccumc.org
TABLE SPONSORS ALBO Scholarship Fund Mrs. Rachel T. Dix (2) Mr. Steve Felton and Team WellWorth Financial Group | Ameriprise Financial First Carolina Realty JaGlo Family Scholarship Mr. Ben Kadlec | Legacy Wealth Strategies OIC of Rocky Mount Wheeler & Woodlief Funeral Home and Cremations Word Tabernacle Church PROGRAM BOOK SPONSOR VIP Printing of Rocky Mount Flower Arrangements by Mr. Gary Gurganus donated by Mr. Steve Felton THE ALMA MATER We honor faith that seeks life whole, Whose hearts and minds unite in soul, Whose freedom teaches self-control, A gift which we inherit. Confirmed in these unrivaled years. Of learning, laughter, and of tears, Of yearning hope amid our fears, We praise thee for thy spirit. Wesleyan, our Alma Mater, Now we join with voices raised; May thy name be blessed in singing, And by grateful lives be praised.
Welcome Seth Badder, a NCWU Junior Biology major from Edenton, NC, has a passion for serving others and is involved in multiple clubs and organizations, including SGA, Disc Golf Club, Psychology Club, Nu Gamma Phi, and is also an RA. While Seth is still exploring his options, he is passionate about pursuing a career that focuses on environmental science and sustainability. Response/Blessing Laura Goldenbaum-Yang North Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church Clergy Brunch Introduction of Speaker Eddie McKoy III ’85 Former NCWU Basketball Player, Don Scalf Scholarship Recipient Guest Speaker Jeff Hood ’84 NCWU Sports Hall of Fame Inductee, CEO for Hoodie’s House of Hope for Youth Charitable Organization Acknowledgement of Scholarship Donors and Recipients Lovely Thornton, a Senior at NCWU, is majoring in Elementary Education with a minor in Psychology. Lovely has been working with children for over five years, and will continue her passion with her degree. “I plan to pursue further opportunities in the Education system.” Singing of the Alma Mater Latisha Scott, Class of ’06, is a proud graduate of North Carolina Wesleyan University. Latisha continues to share her musical journey with her alma mater. Currently working on her debut album, she uses her voice to inspire and uplift others with messages of hope and love. Video Presentation Ways to Give Matt Tiller, a Senior at North Carolina Wesleyan University, is majoring in English and Psychology. Actively involved in leadership and service, he is a member of Omicron Delta Kappa, Student Government, and the University Honor Board. Matt is passionate about advocacy and social justice. He plans to pursue a Master of Public Health. Final Remarks Dr. Evan Duff, NCWU President Photos PROGRAM
GUEST SPEAKER Jeffrey A. Hood Currently resides in Charlotte, NC and serves as the Chief Executive Officer for the Hoodie’s House of Hope for Youth charitable organization. Formerly served as the Chief Executive Officer for the National Association of Police Athletic/ Activities Leagues, Inc. organization. During his tenure with National PAL, the organization experienced significant growth in the areas of brand awareness, chapter affiliation membership, budget enhancement, youth engagement, community service participation and profitable national event activations. Jeff Hood has been involved with several youth related causes for more than 35 years. Prior to joining National PAL, Jeff served as the Executive Director for the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Activities League, where he overhauled the organization, upgraded programmatic and enhanced athletic facilities, all while growing the organizational budget by 65%. Jeff was also the Co-Founder and Executive Director for Athletes United for Youth (formally Dell Curry Charity for Youth) in partnership with NBA’s Dell Curry, NFL’s Steve Smith and ESPN’s Jay Bilas since its inception in 1998. Before co-founding the Athletes United for Youth organization, Jeff was the Director of Adolescent Services at the McLeod Addictive Disease Center for approximately nine years. During this time, Jeff was instrumental in youth program development where he co-wrote a program for a youth wilderness camp, as well as programs associated with inpatient and outpatient substance abuse services. In 2010, to honor and pay tribute to his mother, Doris "Hoodie" Hood, who was a retired educator with the NYC Board of Education and a devoted community youth advocate, Jeff
founded the Hoodie's House of Hope for Youth Foundation, whose mission is in aiding and addressing Homelessness, Hunger, Education, Leadership Development, Mentoring and out of school time programs. Hoodie's House, in going global, now operates a well-established K-7th grade school in ThomasElie, Haiti, currently serving 127 youth. Additionally, since 2012 Hoodie's House of Hope for Youth hosts two (2) annual Community Holiday Celebration of Hope Feeding of the Homeless, Underserved and Elderly events each year that have aided and provided for more than 12,000 persons to date. Throughout his experience, Jeff is most effective planning, implementing and engaging with youth and programs designed to aid and impact youth towards making positive decisions that will excel their future. Jeff specializes in event planning, fundraising and grant writing. He is credited with having initiated several celebrity charity golf classics, concerts, galas, youth clinics and the nationally recognized Hoodie's House National HS Hoop's Classic. Through spectator attendance, sponsorship and financial success, each of these charitable fundraising events have benefited youth housed within underserved CharlotteMecklenburg communities. Additionally, over the years, Jeff has amassed more than 30 million dollars of grant funds. Jeff, a native of Queens, NY is a graduate of North Carolina Wesleyan University where he received a BA Degree. In September 2007, Jeff was inducted into the N.C. Wesleyan Sports Hall of Fame after having completed a stellar basketball career. In 2018, Jeff was recognized by the NBA's Charlotte Hornets as their Tissot Gift of Time Community Service Person of the Year. He was also honored and recognized as a "Made Man" of Charlotte, NC. In 2019 NOBLE recognized Jeff as their Civil Rights Justice By Action for Youth of the Year Award. Jeff is married to Gloria Sledge Hood and together they have a wonderful daughter named Maya.
North Carolina Wesleyan University is fortunate to offer endowed scholarships through the generosity of various donors. Endowment gifts support students, faculty, and programs, helping propel scholarships, initiatives, and programs forward for centuries to come. NCWU donors support over 95% of our students with their educational goals. Without these scholarships, the majority of our students would not be able to attend NCWU. Scholarships listed represent those awarded with donor representation at the Battling Bishop Brunch. Over 80 scholarships were awarded this fiscal year 2024-25. Adam F. and Catherine B. Ipock Endowed Scholarship Honors the life and contributions of Wesleyan alumni Adam F. and Catherine Ipock (class of 1991 & 1992) to benefit students from Craven, Jones, Edgecombe, Nash or Vance counties. Recipient: Daniel Mayorido-Alvarez, Senior, Psychology, Rocky Mount, NC Allen S. Johnson Scholarship Established by the late Gregory W. Williams, class of 1975 for students majoring in history to honor the former History Professor, Dr. Allen S. Johnson. Recipient: Lexie Collins, Junior, History, Spring Hope, NC Arch W. Sharer Scholarship Fund Established to honor the life and contributions of Dr. Archibald W. Sharer by his son, R. Bruce Sharer, class of 1968 for students pursuing a major in Environmental Science or Biology. Recipient: Chloe Lynch, Junior, Environmental Science, Rocky Mount, NC Barnhill Contracting Company Scholarship Fund Established by Barnhill Contracting Company to support students attending NCWU from geographic areas serviced by Barnhill. Recipient: Linster Frazier, Senior, Computer Information Systems, Rocky Mount, NC ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIPS
Beverly and Gaston Small Scholarship Fund Established by Beverly and Gaston Small to support students who are residents of Pasquotank County, NC, but any student in good standing is eligible for the scholarship. Recipient: Trenton Sawyer, Sophomore, Exercise Science, Elizabeth City, NC Don Scalf Endowment Scholarship Fund Established by Lloyd Nelson ’67 to honor Wesleyan’s Hall of Fame Inductee, Don Scalf. The scholarship preferences students majoring in physical education with a financial need. Recipients: Victoria Farji, Senior, Exercise Science, Rocky Mount, NC; Justin Szcypinski, Senior, Exercise Science, Chapel Hill, NC H. Langill and Elizabeth M. Watson Scholarship Fund Established and funded by Trustee Emeritus, Dr. William Pittman and his wife, the late Celeste Pittman to honor the life and contributions of his dear friends, H. Langill and Elizabeth M. Watson. It supports first generation students. Recipients: Carmelo Bess, Sophomore, Psychology, Gastonia, NC; Ti’Asia Bryant, Sophomore, PreMedicine, Kinston, NC; Asiaa Deas, Sophomore, Business Administration, Oxford, NC; Christopher Melancon, Sophomore, Computer Information Systems, Fort Worth, TX The Jessie Bell Raiford Scholarship Fund Established to honor the life and contributions of Miss Jessie Raiford. The scholarship supports any student of personal character, relevant extracurricular activities, motivating interest and financial need. Recipient: Kylen Davis, Senior, Entertainment Arts – Music, Marietta, GA John C. Bullock Scholarship Fund Established to honor the life accomplishments of former Board of Trustee member, John C. Bullock. The scholarship is awarded according to the University Scholarship and Financial Aid policy. Recipient: Brayden Blue, Sophomore, Sports Administration, Kannapolis, NC
Laura Elizabeth Boice Endowed Scholarship Fund Established through the generosity of Laura E. Boice to honor the Eleanor White Dare Chapter Natl. Inc. Colonial Dames XVII Century to support a student majoring in the area of History or Education. Recipient: Jackson Thompson, Senior, History, Rocky Mount, NC Roger G. Taylor Endowed Scholarship Fund in Honor of Gaile Davenport Taylor Established by Board of Trustees member, Roger Taylor, class of 1970. The scholarship is open to any part or fulltime single mother in her Junior or Senior academic year. Recipient: Felicia Williams, Organizational Leadership, Senior, Nashville, NC Taswell and Fidelia Griffin Endowed Scholarship Fund Established by Nell Griffin Davenport, Mr. and Mrs. James A. Griffin (Patsy Matthews, C’64), Mrs. R.T. Griffin III (Dorothy Crickmore Griffin) and Mrs. Charlotte Griffin Ahalt to honor the life and contributions of Taswell and Fidelia Griffin. Recipient: Kenneth Snowden, Junior, Organizational Leadership, Rocky Mount, NC
ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIPS Annual named scholarships like endowments make a lasting impact. These scholarships allow funds to be readily available to assist our students. The annual scholarships must be renewed each year before May 31st, and 100% of any donation designated to the scholarship at the time of donation will be awarded as scholarships. Balfour Bookstore Scholarship An outside scholarship through Commemorative Brands, Inc. that is awarded to two student workers in the Rachel T. Dix Bookstore who have achieved academic excellence the prior semesters. Recipient: Jaycie Hadnott, Junior, Elementary Education, K-6, Nashville, NC Blackburn Scholarship The Blackburn Scholarship has been established by the North Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church to enable deserving Methodist youth to continue their education. This scholarship is rotated each year among three institutions. Based on funds available, the Mary Jeanne Blackburn Scholarship is awarded annually to students who are members of the North Carolina Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church and who maintain a 2.0 cumulative grade point average. The amount and renewal terms vary. Recipient: Ashanti Clanton, Senior, Criminal Justice, Weldon, NC Franks-Penny Memorial Scholarship The Franks-Penny Memorial Scholarship awarded through the United Methodist Foundation gives first preference to female students who demonstrate academic merit and/or financial need. Recipient: Ashanti Clanton, Senior, Criminal Justice, Weldon, NC Gail B. Fields Annual Scholarship Established in memory of Gail B. Fields with preference going to students majoring in Religious Studies. Recipient: Noah Larkin, Senior, Religious Studies, Rocky Mount, NC
The Golden Leaf Scholarship An outside scholarship funded through the Golden LEAF Foundation that strives to increase economic opportunities for North Carolina’s rural and economically distressed areas by investing in students who commit to attend a North Carolina institution, graduate, and return to a rural community in the state. Recipients, Amanda Layton, Senior, Accounting, Kittrell, NC; Benjamin Sellers, Senior, Biology, Rocky Mount, NC; Alexis Whitfield, Senior, Computer Information Systems, Butner, NC; Finnegan Allen, Freshman, Business Administration, Shelby, NC; Joseph Cooper, Freshman, Business Administration, Tarheel, NC; Malachi Hayes, Freshman, Exercise Science, Otto, NC; Nyasia Jones, Freshman, Psychology, Macclesfield, NC Gravely Foundation Annual Scholarship An outside scholarship established by the children of Rocky Mount businessman J.O.W. and Lula Keen Gravely to honor their parents’ belief that every child should have the opportunity to advance through education. It gives preference to students in Nash, Edgecombe, Wilson, Halifax, and Franklin counties. Recipients: Cameron Baker, Senior, Biology, Rocky Mount, NC; Travis Gamache, Junior, Business Administration, Franklinton, NC; Katie Gutierrez-Rayo, Senior, Business Administration, Franklinton, NC; Christopher Lancaster, Senior, Criminal Justice, Nashville, NC; Dennis Manning, Senior, Business Administration, Bailey, NC Gregor Baum Annual Scholarship Established by Alumni, Gregor Baum, class of 2024, the annual scholarship benefits traditional international students with a financial need who must be actively engaged in a campus club, sorority, or fraternity. Recipients: Agustin Cardaci, Organizational Leadership, Argentina; Victoria Seggiaro Parma, Biomedical Science, Pre-Medicine, Argentina NCWU International Scholarship Established by John and Linda Shepherd, the scholarship is awarded to new, returning or graduate international students with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Recipient: Thiago Gianico, Senior, Exercise Science, Argentina
BOARD OF TRUSTEES Mr. Marion Barnes Mr. Paul A. Bauer ’86, Chair Mr. Dan L. Bell Mr. Vernon T. Bradley Jr. ’80 Mr. Harry Bynum Dr. Daniel L. Crocker Dr. Arnold Gordon-Bray, BG (R) (Hon.) Dr. Janice Bryant Howroyd (Hon.) Mr. Kevin Jones Mr. T.W. King Mr. Jerome MA Mrs. Beth B. Murphy Mr. Baxter J. Myers Jr. ’66 Mr. Lloyd Nelson, ’67 Dr. LaWanda V. Peace Mrs. Terri Sharpe Mr. Joseph A. Shearin ’78, Vice Chair Mr. Wayne Souza ’73 Mr. Roger G. Taylor ’70 Mr. John A. Turnage, Secretary Mr. Thomas A. Winstead TRUSTEES EMERITI Mr. Vince Andracchio Mr. J. Phil Carlton Ms. Phyllis S. Cowell Mr. Mike Hancock Dr. John Hartness Mrs. Vel H. Johnson Mr. William Lassiter Dr. William B. Pittman Mr. Joe Nelson Mr. David Oettinger Dr. Robert R. Zipf Jr. EX OFFICIO Reverend Dr. David Joyner (Ex Officio) Bishop Connie Shelton (Honorary Trustee)
2024-25 FOUNDATION BOARD Mrs. Pat Daniels Mr. Trevor G. Delano ’14 Mr. Steve D. Felton ’84 Mr. E. Blaise Gourley ’21 Mr. Adam Ipock ’91 Mrs. Catherine B. Ipock ’92 Mrs. Debra J. Lanham Mrs. Dina C. Pitt Mr. Landon E. Shuff Mrs. Kim S. Sutton Mrs. Erica Zito OUR MISSION North Carolina Wesleyan University, a private institution affiliated with the United Methodist Church, prepares students for professional advancement, life-long learning, and responsible participation in their communities. OUR VISION At North Carolina Wesleyan University, we provide students with opportunities to make meaningful connections and learn through innovative teaching approaches. The distinctive Wesleyan experience equips our graduates to make a positive impact on the world. CORE VALUES Knowledge and Understanding Integrity and Accountability Patience and Respect Kindness and Empathy
Stay Connected! For more details, or to make a specific Endowment or Scholarship gift, contact the Office of Advancement at 252.985.5410 or click on QR code below. CONTACT US ONLINE ncwu.edu/donate MAIL 3400 N. Wesleyan Blvd. Rocky Mount, NC 27804 CALL 252.985.5581 OTHER WAYS TO GIVE SCAN TO VIEW THE FULL LIST OF DONOR-FUNDED SCHOLARSHIPS