Scholarships

SCC Foundation Scholarships:

The following is a brief description of scholarship programs for SCC students. Scholarships are gift money that does not need to be repaid as long as the student meets the eligibility criteria. Scholarships may be awarded based on financial need or some type of merit (such as academic), or a combination of the two. The Free Application for Financial Aid (FAFSA) is also required for many scholarship applications.

An alphabetical list of scholarships available through Southwestern Community College Foundation and other donors that have contacted us are listed below. Click on the scholarship title for more details. Students are encouraged to review the list to identify any scholarships they might be eligible for.  Flip through the links by using the arrows at the bottom of the sidebar. Please realize that in addition to the information in the descriptions, there may be eligibility requirements beyond those mentioned below. For complete scholarship and application information, you may come by the Financial Aid Office located in the Balsam Center or contact us at 828.339.4207 or 800.447.4091, ext. 4207. To apply for scholarships, visit https://southwesterncc.awardspring.com. The SCC scholarship application portal opens on February 1st. The deadline is typically in mid-April.

The Financial Aid Office may receive scholarships throughout the academic year. Please continue to check your student email or come by the Financial Aid Office for new scholarship information. Should funding for any scholarship become unavailable, that scholarship will not be awarded during the upcoming academic year.

Scholarship Web Searches:
The following are a few of the many search engines for scholarships known to us. We recommend that you always read all the details before you provide your personal information, and be sure you are willing to accept the provider's terms and conditions. Remember: never pay anyone to help you find free financial aid.

Every year, the North Carolina Community College System provides information about scholarships across the state through a yearly Scholarship Guide.  Students are encouraged to contact the Financial Aid Office if they are interested in any scholarships in the guide. 

Outside Scholarships:
Students are encouraged to pursue scholarship opportunities throughout their communities, from groups such as civic organizations and churches, and to research other national scholarships through reputable organizations and web sites. There are many organizations and agencies that offer scholarship information. SCC provides links to scholarship opportunities as a service to our students. SCC does not offer the scholarships, and has no responsibility for or involvement in the scholarship administration, selection and award processes. If you have questions about outside scholarships, please contact the company offering them. To view the outside scholarships we're currently aware of, please click here. 

Scholarships

Cindy and Flip Holt Scholarship
  • Applicants must be be enrolled at least three-quarter time
  • Applicants must be pursuing an associate degree in the Health Sciences
  • Applicants must have and maintain a 3.0 GPA or better
  • Applicants must reside in Swain, Macon, Jackson County or the Qualla Boundary
Class of 2024 Nursing Scholarship
  • Preference is given to students with demonstrated financial need
  • Preference for a student with demonstrated financial need entering Nursing School with a minimum GPA of 3.0
Connie M. Haire Scholarship
 Phil Haire (second from left) and Dr. Connie Haire (third from left) recently endowed a scholarship through the SCC Foundation. They are shown here with Dr. Don Tomas (left), president of SCC, and Brett Woods (right), director of the SCC Foundation.

During her 25 years of overseeing the Southwestern Community College Foundation, Dr. Connie M. Haire had the privilege of seeing just how significantly scholarship funding could impact a student’s life.

Now retired, she and her husband – former N.C. Rep. Phil Haire – have ensured many more lives will be changed for the better.

The Haires, who reside in Sylva, set up the Connie M. Haire Endowed Scholarship fund in 2017.

“Phil and I wanted to provide for student support for many years to come, and we wanted to set up an endowment that would provide scholarships in perpetuity,” Dr. Haire said. “Since retiring six years ago, I have seen the growth in programs and student success, and I want to be part of that going forward. This scholarship endowment allows me to continue to be a part of the SCC family.”

Dr. Haire served in a variety of roles at SCC before retiring in 2011 as vice president of the Macon Campus and institutional development. She previously served as vice president for student and institutional development (1995-2005), dean for institutional development (1997-99) and director of resource development (1986-97).

Throughout her time with the college, she oversaw the SCC Foundation.

“Very few people have spent more time than Dr. Haire has over the years working to help our students through the SCC Foundation,” said Dr. Don Tomas, president of SCC. “She knows as well as anyone how much an endowed scholarship can mean to current and future students. On behalf of our students, I am extremely grateful that the Haires have endowed this scholarship in her name.”

During Dr. Haire’s tenure, then-president Dr. Barry Russell and the late Dr. Charles McConnell – who was then superintendent of Jackson County Schools - founded the New Century Scholars program. Funded solely by private gifts, New Century Scholars provides last-dollar tuition for deserving students in Jackson, Macon and Swain Counties.

Dr. Haire immediately became a strong advocate and leader in helping raise funds for the program, which has touched hundreds of area families and is still thriving today.

“I had a wonderful career at Southwestern, and I had the opportunity to work in many different areas of the college – all of which were related to support for students and programming,” Dr. Haire said. “Of the many initiatives we began, one of the most rewarding is New Century Scholars. It is wonderful to see how it’s continuing to help young students and their families.”

Following is criteria for applying for this scholarship:

  • Applicant must be enrolled 3/4 time or more

For more information about endowed scholarships or other giving opportunities at SCC, visit www.southwesterncc.edu/foundation, call 828.339.4227 or write k_posey@southwesterncc.edu.

Culinary Arts Scholarship
  • Must be actively seeking a degree in the Culinary Arts Program.
  • Must be enrolled full-time.
  • Must maintain a GPA of 3.0 or better.
  • Must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Daniel May Finish Line Scholarship
  • Applicants must have and maintain a 2.0 GPA or higher
  • Applicants must have completed 50% of their program credits
  • The purpose of this scholarship is to provide a "hand up" to students who demonstrate academic promise, grit and determination in continuing their education
Dills Family Scholarship
  • Applicants must be pursuing a degree in Respiratory Therapy, Occupational Therapy or Physical Therapy programs
  • Preference shall be given to non-traditional students
Dinah Blanton Mathis Scholarship
  • Applicants must be pursuing an Associate Degree in Nursing
  • Applicants must have and maintain a 3.0 GPA or higher
Dogwood Crafters Scholarship
  • Must live within a 150 mile radius of SCC.
  • Must be interested in arts and crafts of the traditional mountain heritage.
  • Open to both full and part-time students.
Don and Bertha Craig Memorial Scholarship

  • Must be a resident of Jackson or Swain Counties, including the Qualla Boundary
  • Must be seeking a Business Administration degree with plans to pursue a career in the local tourism industry
  • Must maintain a 2.5 GPA
  • Available to full-time or part-time students
  • Must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) required for that award year
Don Craig Memorial Scholarship
  • Must be a resident of Jackson or Swain Counties, including the Qualla Boundary
  • Must be enrolled in a surveying degree program with plans to pursue a career in the local surveying industry
  • Must maintain a 2.5 GPA
  • Must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
Dorothy's Special Award
  • This scholarship is open to all students

 

Duane Young, MSPT Endowed Memorial Academic Excellence Scholarship
  • Applicant must be a Physical Therapy Assistant student in their second year
  • Recipient selected will be the student with the highest gpa based on scores in the program
Edward & Hortense Wilson Scholarship

  • Open to all students who might have some assistance from parents, a scholarship or other sources of revenue but still not have sufficient financial assistance to remain in school
  • Applicants are required to apply for financial aid by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
El-Bayadi Family Scholarship
Well-dressed couple stands outdoors
Marion & Dr. Naqui El-Bayadi

Southwestern Community College's health science programs benefit from a scholarship endowment made by Dr. and Mrs. Nagui El-Bayadi. The late Dr. El-Bayadi, a retired surgeon with our local hospital, and his wife, Marion, established this scholarship to provide deserving students from Jackson, Macon and Swain counties financial assistance with their education.

Dr. El-Bayadi was a physician in this community from 1969-2001, and he served on SCC's Foundation Board from 2002-2005. Through his generosity and commitment to his community, students in health care programs at Southwestern will have an opportunity to receive financial assistance.

SCC offers 13 degrees in the health science fields, including nursing, radiography, medical laboratory technology and respiratory therapy, among others.

To be eligible for this scholarships, applicants:

  • Must be seeking a degree in a health science program.
  • Must have financial need as evidenced by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
  • Must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5.
  • May be either a full-time or half-time student.
  • Applicants are required to apply for financial aid by completing the FAFSA.

Here's a little more info about the wonderful people who made this scholarship possible:

Dr. Naqui El-Bayadi knew from an early age that he wanted to be a doctor. Growing up in Cairo, Egypt, he obtained his medical degree at Ain-Shams University in Cairo, completing a one year internship and two years of residency before moving to Isle of Wight, England where he worked in the Senior House Office in Surgery at St. Mary’s Hospital.

He relocated to Salisbury, England in 1960 to complete another residency at the Salisbury District Hospital. There Dr. El-Bayadi enjoyed success as a plastic surgeon and met his future wife, Marion, a registered nurse at the same hospital. In 1963, the couple relocated to Philadelphia, Penn., where Dr. El-Bayadi completed a year-long internship in general surgery at the Internship Graduate Hospital at the University of Pennsylvania.

They relocated again to Baltimore, Maryland in 1964 where Dr. El-Bayadi completed his residency at the VA Hospital before finally moving to Sylva, North Carolina in 1969 where Dr. El-Bayadi opened a private practice in general surgery. He was on the surgical staff at C.J. Harris Hospital, moving to the position of post chief of surgery when C.J. Harris Hospital became Harris Regional Hospital. He operated his private practice through 2004, before passing away in 2005.

His work was his hobby. Dr. El-Bayadi proudly served on the Southwestern Community College Foundation Board of Directors from 2002 until his passing in April of 2005. Dr. El-Bayadi was very active in the Sylva Rotary Club as well as St. John’s Episcopal Church of Sylva. Dr. El-Bayadi leaves behind his wife of 40 years, Marion El-Bayadi, two daughters and four granddaughters.

The El-Bayadi Family Scholarship was endowed in 2003 to assist students from Jackson, Macon, and Swain Counties as well as the Qualla Boundary, who are pursuing careers in the medical field, with a preference for students who wish to stay in the area after graduation.

Eva McCall Memorial Scholarship
Three men sit at a board room table; man in center signs document.
ABOVE: From left to right, Brett Woods, Tyler Cook and Dr. Don Tomas sign the paperwork to endow the Eva McCall Memorial scholarship. BELOW: Macon County resident Emily Pignona was the first recipient of this scholarship in 2018.
Young lady sits on a bench outside the Groves Center in Franklin.

For SCC employee and Macon County native Tyler Cook, his aunt’s lasting legacy was a cause worth fighting for.

Cook’s great aunt, Eva McCall, was a Macon county native, a beautician by trade and an author with passion. She wrote several novels throughout her life, publishing her first in 1997, even inspiring Cook to become an author himself.

“Endowing this scholarship is just a small way to honor Eva, who did more for me than I could ever repay her for,” said Cook.

At the time of McCall’s passing in November 2017, Cook and his family decided the best way to honor his great aunt would be to create a scholarship in her name dedicated to helping aspiring writers get their education.
"The day of her memorial service was the day we decided to create the scholarship,” said Cook. “It took off pretty quickly from there; a GoFundMe page was created, and we campaigned on social media. We also mailed out hundreds of letters to Eva’s family and friends, which wouldn’t have been possible without my grandmother, Susie Stanley, and her connections.”

The first recipient of the scholarship was Macon County resident Emily Pignona, chosen in June for the 2018-2019 school year.

“We admire Tyler for his determination in making this scholarship happen,” said Brett Woods, director of the SCC Foundation. “It’s important to share his story because it goes to show how just one determined person can make a difference in the lives of students. This scholarship will help students for years to come.”

  • Applicant must have a 3.0 gpa or higher
  • Applicant may be pursuing any Associate Degree
  • Applicant may not have any behavioral sanctions in place at time of award

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