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

Forgivable Education Loans for Service (FELS) Scholarship

 

This scholarship/loan program is offered through the College Foundation of North Carolina. A scholarship/loan means that although it is technically a loan, if you follow the rules and obligations of the program, the amount is forgiven through service and thus becomes a scholarship. 

The Forgivable Education Loans for Service (FELS) consists of the repackaging of several former NC scholarship/loan programs into one program. FELS provides financial assistance to qualified students who are committed to working in North Carolina in fields designated as critical employment shortage areas. These programs are related to teaching, allied health, nursing and medicine programs. This replaces and consolidates some former programs such as the Nursing Scholars scholarship loan Program (NSP), Nurse Education Scholarship Loan Program (NESLP), Prospective Teachers Scholarship Loan (PTSL), and Health, Science & Math (HSM). 

Application deadlines may vary.

For more information and to apply go to: http://www.cfnc.org/FELS. 

 

Fred B. Holcombe Scholarship
  • Criminal Justice students only
  • Preference will be given to Jackson County residents but Macon and Swain County residents are eligible to apply
  • Must show academic achievement (have and maintain a cumulative 2.0 GPA)
  • Applicants are required to apply for financial aid by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
Golden Leaf Scholars Program – Two Year Colleges Scholarship
  • Must be a permanent resident of one of the 78 eligible counties as designated by the Golden Leaf Foundation.
  • Demonstrate a financial need under federal TRIO formula.
  • Will be required to disclose all other financial assistance. 
  • Requires at least half-time enrollment for a full award.

Finalists who meet all the above eligibility requirements will undergo a separate “merit” competition. The selection will be based on:

  • The effect of the decline in the tobacco industry on his/her family 
  • The effect of the declining economy on his/her family 
  • Academic record 
  • Overall evaluation of the application 
  • Leadership and community service 
 
For additional information and application, please contact the Financial Aid Office.
Golden Leaf Scholarship For Community College Students Transferring to Four-Year Public Institutions

  • Be currently enrolled at a North Carolina community college
  • Be a North Carolina resident for tuition purposes (1 year minimum of consecutive residency)
  • Transfer to one of the state’s public universities in the fall (list is available in the Financial Aid Office)
  • Reside in one of the 78 eligible counties
  • Demonstrate financial need (complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid [FAFSA])
  • Present a strong record of academic achievement – GPA 3.0 or above
  • Must not be in default on a student loan

Information and applications are available online at www.CFNC.org/goldenleaf

 

Grady Corbin Memorial Scholarship Fund

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Must be enrolled full-time (12 credit hours) at Southwestern Community College.
  • Must have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher.
  • Applicants are required to apply for financial aid by complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
  • Open to 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.
  • Amount of scholarship subject to change
Great Smoky Mountains Railroad Scholarship
  • Preference for applicants from Swain County with a second preference for students from Jackson County
  • Preference will be given to applicants with financial need
  • Preference will be given to students pursuing a degree in Welding, Culinary or Electronic Engineering Technology
H. David Sneed Scholarship
  • Open to residents of Jackson, Macon, Swain Counties and the Cherokee Indian Reservation
  • Must be degree seeking
  • Must be full time (12 hours)
  • Must have/maintain a cumulative 2.5 GPA or better
  • Applicants are required to apply for financial aid by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
Hart and Sara Goodson Scholarship
  • Applicants must be pursuing a certificate, diploma or associate degree
  • Applicants must be from Jackson County
  • Applicants must have and maintain a 2.5 GPA or higher
Ida Ramey Cloer Early Education Scholarship
  • Must be seeking an associate degree in Early Childhood Education or plan to obtain a bachelor degree in elementary education.
  • Must be enrolled full-time.
  • Must have and maintain a 3.0 GPA.
  • Preference for students from Macon County.
  • Must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) required for that award year.

For more info on this Scholarship, click here.

Jackson County Chamber of Commerce Scholarship

 

  • Selection of recipients of this award shall be made according to the following criteria:
  • Preference will be given to candidates who graduated from a Jackson County, North Carolina, school
  • Must be affiliated (a member or immediate family member) with the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce.
  • Candidates shall be considered on the basis of their overall academic merit, financial need, and civic involvement
  • Recipients must be accepted and enrolled at Southwestern Community College as full-time, degree-seeking students
  • Recipients must be in good standing with Southwestern Community College – must maintain 2.0 cumulative GPA
  • Preference will be given to new students each year; however, renewals will be considered
  • Must file Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

 

James Therlo Herron Memorial Scholarship

  • The James Therlo Herron Memorial Scholarship is open to students seeking a degree in Surveying Technology. Preference will be given to Swain County residents.
  • Must have and maintain a minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA
  • Open to full-time and part-time students.
  • Must have applied for financial aid by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) required for that award year
Jane Perry Scholarship
  • Open to students in degree or certificate programs related to the preparation for caring for individuals at home.
  • Must have and maintain a cumulative 2.0 GPA.
  • Applicants are required to apply for financial aid by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Jim & Jean Hartbarger Scholarship
  • Must be a Jackson County New Century Scholar in good standing.
  • Must be seeking an associate degree.
  • Must have and maintain a 2.0 GPA.
  • Must have financial need.
  • Must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) required for that award year.
Jim and Shirley Beasley Scholarship
Couple poses for a photo inside their home
Shirley & Jim Beasley

Over the final days of Jim Beasley’s life, family members took note of the kindness and caring shown by SCC students as they made their clinical rounds this past summer at Harris Regional Hospital.

“It seemed like every other person who came in his room was an SCC student,” recalled Jenny Holland, Beasley’s niece. “Whether it was for an X-ray, the ventilator, to draw blood or something else, the SCC students were so kind and so compassionate. Even if Uncle Jim wasn’t conscious, they would gently pat him and talk to him. You could just see they cared.”

To honor Jim and his wife Shirley – and to help future SCC health sciences students - the family has endowed the Jim and Shirley Beasley Health Sciences Endowed Scholarship Fund.

The principal will remain untouched in perpetuity while a portion of the earnings from the investment of the fund will be made available to support SCC health sciences students pursuing an associate or WNC RIBN (Regionally Increasing Baccalaureate Nurses) degree.

“We are pleased and very humbled that the family chose to honor Jim and Shirley Beasley in this way,” said Dr. Don Tomas, president of SCC. “It’s great to hear positive reports about how our health sciences students and graduates conduct themselves when they’re in a clinical setting, and I know so much of the credit for that goes to our faculty and staff.”

SCC currently has 14 health sciences programs and is in the process of planning a new health sciences building.

Once that building is completed, SCC will be able to accept more health sciences students than ever – so the new scholarship is particularly timely.

“Aunt Shirley and Uncle Jim helped a lot of people over the years,” Holland said. “We feel good about helping people with a scholarship in their names. When we help students in SCC’s health sciences programs, we feel like we’re helping each other because at some point we’ll all need help from medical professionals.

“Our family would like to thank everyone who donated to the scholarship in Uncle Jim’s memory,” Holland added.

Following are criteria necessary to apply for this scholarship:

  • Applicant must be seeking an AAS Degree or WNC RIBN Degree in Health Sciences 
  • Applicant must have a 3.0 or higher GPA\

For more about this scholarship, click here.

John and Lori Impagliatelli Memorial Scholarship
  • Applicant must have a 3.0 or higher GPA
  • Applicant must have financial need
  • Applicant must be enrolled full time or part time
  • Applicant must have completed a FAFSA

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