2017 NCHE Scholarship Recipients Announced

Fall 2017 / by Evelyn Bickley

As NCHE’s activities director, one of the very exciting things I am responsible for is the administration of the scholarship program. Starting in December, the scholarship application process is opened for North Carolina homeschooled seniors whose families are members of NCHE. The application, available on the NCHE website, and accompanying required documents allow students to tell us some of the wonderful things they have been doing. I can tell you that you are raising some amazingly talented and gifted students!

Academically, this year’s applicants included one with a nearly perfect ACT score, another with a nearly perfect ACT essay score, many who have accumulated college credits, and at least one who will have attained her associate’s degree by the time she receives her high school diploma. Their interests include music, sports, collecting more than 70,000 LegoTM bricks for orphans in India, textile design, and renewable energy solutions. They had experiences that confirmed their desires to pursue engineering, musical theater, or medical missions. We had many great applicants this year, which made the selection process even more challenging.

The selection committee was made up of homeschool parents who have graduated all their students and been through the process of helping their students search for colleges, determine majors, and then, find the funds to pay for everything.

This year, NCHE could award four scholarships, due in part to generous donations from Apologia Publishing and the HINTS homeschool support group in south Charlotte. In addition, individual members and supporters of NCHE have donated to the NCHE scholarship fund to make these scholarships possible.

Abby Wright—The Apologia Missions and Ministry scholarship of $1000 went to Abby Wright of Bermuda Run. She has participated in at least five US mission trips and one international trip to Papua, New Guinea. She went on that trip even though it conflicted with a rare invitation to participate in the national competition of the National Christian Forensics and Communications Association (NCFCA). Abby said in her application essay that she doubts she will spend years as a missionary on a remote island, but she hopes to make the world a better place through the power of words. Abby plans to study communications and journalism at Chapel Hill.

Haddon Fox—The HINTS Community Service scholarship went to Haddon Fox of Raleigh. Haddon has earned forty-nine dual enrollment college credits while maintaining a 4.0 GPA. In addition to his academic load, he developed and taught a weekly biblical Greek class, launched a young men’s book study group in which he mentored younger boys in leadership, and has learned many practical skills such as welding, woodworking, and metalworking. Most significantly, Haddon helped two teenage friends build an 1,100-square-foot, handicapped accessible addition to their home to accommodate the needs of their mom who was left severely injured after being hit head-on by a drunk driver. Haddon plans to further develop his skills as a mechanical engineer while attending Grove City College in Pennsylvania.

Sam Knight—Sam is from Madison, and he is the recipient of the 2017 Academic Award. Sam maintained a 4.0 GPA while taking physics 1 and 2 along with calculus 2 and 3 during his senior year. He is fascinated with how things work and loves to build, create, and invent. During his high school years, he sought opportunities to job shadow engineers who confirmed his inclination to pursue engineering. He will be attending NC State to become a mechanical engineer.

Kiera Daley—The recipient of the 2017 NCHE Award for Arts is Kiera Daley of Morganton. Kiera, who is one of nine children, maintained a 4.0 GPA. Along with a sister, Kiera started a baking and catering business. Being fluent in ASL, she teaches a beginner’s sign language class to other homeschooled students. Kiera was awarded the Arts scholarship because of her talent as a pianist. She has won several awards including the North Carolina Federation of Music President’s Award and has performed the past three years during the NCHE Talent Show. She plans to study piano performance at Chapel Hill.

Please consider financially supporting the NCHE scholarship program so that students in future years may continue to reap the rewards of being recognized for their achievements. Mail donations to NCHE, 4441 Six Forks Road, Ste. 106, Box 144, Raleigh, NC 27609 or given online at NCHE.com.