NCSU Cabarrus Alumni Club

In 1989 two loyal NCSU graduates and a dear NCSU friend discussed the idea of establishing an endowment to fund scholarships for Cabarrus County high school students who planned to attend NCSU. The group felt that there were many deserving graduates who were not being recognized publicly and financially for their achievements in high school, and they wanted to see that at least one student in each high school was rewarded in their first year at NCSU based on merit and other achievements. One key part of the overall concept was that students who receive a higher value merit award would not be included in the group eligible for selection to allow spreading out scholarship funds to a larger number of students. After contacting the Alumni Office to get backing and ideas, they quickly involved other NCSU alumni and the small group began contacting local NCSU alumni and businesses in the county to solicit funds for the endowment. The Cabarrus Alumni Club President set a target contribution amount of $2,000 from each of about 15 individuals whom he felt were strong supporters of NCSU.

The endowment balance quickly grew to about $25,000 in 1990, and the Alumni Office assisted with the development of application forms and administrative criteria. There were five high schools in the county at the time, and volunteers contacted the Guidance Departments of each school to advertise the scholarships and encourage participation by seniors interested in NCSU. The alumni group goal was to start with one $1000 scholarship presentation in 1990, adding more each year until all five high schools received a scholarship each year. Since 1990 three additional high schools were added to the Cabarrus County School system, creating stress on the endowment’s principal. However, our NCSU Cabarrus Alumni met the challenge by adding more donors and pushing the principal to levels which allowed continuing the scholarships at the $1000 level for all eight schools.

Donors to this endowment, which was unique for years in Wolfpack Nation, feel closer to the Cabarrus County students who attend NCSU. They also find pride in knowing they are helping local students get a chance to attend college with a financial boost in their freshman year. Thank you notes from recipients indicated that they are very appreciative to have learned that local alumni were interested in seeing them achieve success in college and beyond.

The founders of this scholarship would like to thank students for selecting NCSU and wish for them the best and much success, and to enjoy attending our great university. We would advise any student entering the freshman year to remember why they are attending college and to establish good study habits to carry them toward graduation and successful careers.