| In 2016, Catch the Spirit of Appalachia (CSA) established an endowed scholarship through the Southwestern Community College Foundation. Pictured from left to right are: Doreyl Ammons Cain of Catch the Spirit; Dr. Don Tomas, president of SCC; and Amy Ammons Garza of Catch the Spirit. |
The local non-profit heritage group "Catch the Spirit of Appalachia (CSA)" has established a $15,000 endowed scholarship through the Southwestern Community College Foundation.
CSA gave an $11,000 gift for the scholarship in April 2016 and raised the remaining $4,000 at the group’s 10th annual fundraising dinner held on Sept. 27, 2016. Cofounders Doreyl Ammons Cain and Amy Ammons Garza presented the check to SCC President Dr. Don Tomas and SCC Foundation Director Brett Woods.
"We are honored to create this endowed scholarship with Catch the Spirit of Appalachia,” said Brett Woods, director of the SCC Foundation. “This is a wonderful opportunity to help students continue to preserve and honor the heritage of the mountains through their education at SCC.”
This scholarship was created by the CSA board of directors and founders to help SCC students preserve the Appalachian traditions of the area.
“The scholarship has also been established in memory of those who have been role models in our community: Elmer and Irene Hooper, Mary Jane Queen, Cannie Owen Ammons, Wayne Cobb, Paul Chancellor, Ethel Roper Welch, Gladys Dills Owenby and many others,” said cofounder Amy Ammons-Garza. “It is our hope that this CSA Endowed Scholarship through Southwestern Community College will provide a lasting remembrance of our heritage to our youth.”
When selecting recipients, priority will be given to SCC students studying arts and the environment.
“We are so grateful to Catch the Spirit of Appalachia for establishing this endowed scholarship with SCC,” said Dr. Don Tomas, president of SCC. “This scholarship will help students preserve Appalchian history through their studies at SCC for years to come.”
CSA was founded by Cain and Garza in 1989 to teach local children about mountain music, art and storytelling. CSA became a 501(c)3 nonprofit heritage organization in 1991.
Following are criteria for applying for this scholarship:
- Applicant must have financial need
- Applicant must have completed a FAFSA
- Applicant must be a degree seeking student
- Applicant must have a 2.5 or higher GPA
- Applicant must be carrying 12 credit hours or more
