WCPS Middle Schools Student Earns $20,000 Scholarship

A Brogden Middle School 7th grader will not have to worry about how to pay for college, thanks to College Foundation, Inc. (CFI). Dulce Munoz was one of 10 North Carolina middle school students to receive a CFI Victor E. Bell, Jr. Scholarship, worth up to $20,000.

The Bell scholarship is awarded in an effort to encourage high-potential North Carolina seventh grade students to aspire to a college education. School administrators say they are appreciative to have a student receive the prestigious scholarship.

“Our schools begin preparing students for college and career starting with their first day of school,” states Dr. Steven Taylor, WCPS Superintendent. “This scholarship not only helps make it possible for Ms. Munoz to pursue higher education, but it also encourages other middle school students to want to work hard academically so they can one-day earn college scholarships of their own.”

CFI states that individual awards are $2,000 per year, from middle school through the fourth year of college, up to a maximum total of $20,000 per recipient, as long as the recipient continues to meet annual renewal criteria. Awards are contributed to an account in the North Carolina 529 plan with the individual recipient named as the beneficiary of the account.

“Dulce is a great example of a star student. She is hard-working, helpful, positive, and always ready to do her best.  She brought 110% to the classroom every single day and reminded me of the reason why I wanted to become a teacher.  It is exciting to watch a student continue to grow and be excited about learning,” states Kimica Davis, BMS teacher.

Nominations are by invitation only to middle school counselors and principals. CFI held a random drawing to choose six recipients from nominations submitted by counselors and principals, with a selection made from each of six regions of North Carolina, currently defined by telephone area code. Four other scholarship recipients were drawn from nominations received from college readiness/access groups and a drawing of the remaining nominees.

This is the second year for the scholarship awards. The scholarship is named in honor of Victor E. Bell, Jr., former chairman of the CFI Board of Trustees who served for 30 years.

(For more information, contact Ken Derksen at 919-705-6125)