College of Business
Scholarships

Scholarship Amount Disclaimer: The following scholarship amounts may vary depending on investment earnings and distribution authorized by the WCU Foundation Board.
 

 

ADVERTISING FEDERATION of WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA Scholarship

Amount: $600

Criteria: (1) Marketing major (2) Rising, entering, or enrolled juniors and seniors (3) Resident of North Carolina (4) Academic achievement (5) Participation in social, civic, and school activities (6) Preference given to students who have demonstrated evidence of need for financial support (7) Renewable one time

Origin: The membership of the Advertising Federation of WNC established this fund to promote advertising careers and to support worthy and deserving students who are pursuing courses in advertising/marketing in the College of Business. In addition, the membership intends for the Fund to perpetuate public recognition of the Advertising Federation of Western North Carolina for its significant contribution to the education of young people.


 ALUMNI AND FRIENDS Scholarship

Amount: $1,500

Criteria: (1) Undergraduate Business Major (2) Academic achievement (at least 3.0 GPA in major) (3) Evidence of participation in student affairs

Origin: During the 1997-98 academic year the College of Business dedicated all contributions from its annual phonathon toward establishing an endowed scholarship. Contributions from alumni and friends totaled $10,851.70, which formed the corpus for the endowment fund. Interest from this endowment will perpetually fund a yearly scholarship. As the endowment grows, so grows the size of the scholarship.


BETA GAMMA SIGMA Scholarship

Amount: $1,000

Criteria: (1) Business major or graduate student (2) Student must be a member of Beta Gamma Sigma (3) Academic achievement (4) Community service

Origin: As an AACSB accredited institution, the WCU college of business is eligible to sponsor a chapter of Beta Gamma Sigma, the honorary society of AACSB. Provided our chapter meets yearly minimum guidelines on membership levels and participating members, the national office of Beta Gamma Sigma offers the chapter a $500 scholarship challenge grant. If the college will contribute $500, the national office will match our contribution to bring the total amount of the scholarship award to $1,000.


BRONCE and BETTY RAY Scholarship

Amount: $800 (10 awards)

Criteria: (1) Business major (2) High school graduate from counties of: Alleghany, Graham, Mitchel,l Ashe, Haywood, Swain, Avery, Henderson, Transylvania, Buncombe, Jackson, Watauga, Cherokee, Macon, Yancey, Clay, Madison (3) Other considerations: academic achievement, successful participation in school activities, social and civic contributions, and financial worthiness (4) Renewable (up to 3 times) for recipients who maintain a 3.0 GPA in the major and 2.5 GPA overall

Origin: Bronce and Betty Ray were residents of Charlotte and became aware of WCU through the Flinton family. Their intent was to support deserving young students from the mountain counties of North Carolina who wished to complete a baccalaureate degree at Western.


CHARLES and CLIFTON LAMBRETH Scholarship

Amount: $450

Criteria: (1) Full time undergraduate student (2) Business major (3) Junior or Senior (4) Academic merit (5) Civic involvement

Origin: Charles and Clifton Lambreth of Asheville, North Carolina, have established this scholarship to provide support for WCU students majoring in business who have proven themselves to be academically deserving. Renewals may be considered for a maximum of two award years.


DAVID MCKEE HALL JR. Scholarship

Amount: $1,000

Criteria: (1) Business law major (2) Resident of North Carolina (3) Preference to students from 11th Congressional District which includes the counties of: Buncombe, Henderson, Rutherford, Cherokee, Jackson, Swain, Clay Macon, Transylvania, Cleveland, Madison, Yancey, Graham, McDowell, Haywood, Polk (4) Academic achievement (at least 3.0 GPA in major), leadership ability and potential, civic and social activities and contributions, and moral character.

Origin: This scholarship was established in honor and memory of David McKee Hall, Jr. Mr. Hall, a native of Sylva, practiced law in Jackson County, and at the time of his death in 1960 was a congressman. He attended Jackson County schools and graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and its law school. 
 


DEAN MARTIN Scholarship

Amount: $850 (2 awards)

Criteria: (1) Management or marketing major (2) Academic achievement (at least 3.25 GPA) (3) Evidence of participation in student affairs (4) Full-time student

Origin: Dr. M. Dean Martin was a former faculty member in the College of Business, after a distinguished career in the U.S. Air Force. He taught primarily management and marketing courses, served on the steering committee for the formation of the Master in Project Management degree, and was instrumental in the establishment of WCU's Beta Gamma Sigma chapter. The intent of the Martin family is to honor the memory of Dr. Martin and his commitment to the development and education of young minds.


DUNCAN TYE Scholarship

Amount: $1,400

Criteria: (1) Economics or finance major (2) Full-time student who is a rising senior (3) Academic achievement (at least 3.0 GPA in major) (4) Evidence of participation in student affairs

Origin: This scholarship was established through the efforts of Dr. John Wade, head of the economics, finance, and international business department at WCU and Mr. Bill Tye, brother of Duncan Tye who died unexpectedly in 1997. Professor Duncan Tye taught 20 years at Western and his Econ 303 (Money, Banking, and Financial Markets) course was legendary. Family, friends, and former students contributed to this Fund to honor Dr. Tye.

ED and BERTHA HENSON REED Scholarship

Amount: $1,750 (2 awards)

Criteria: (1) Full time student (2) Business major (3) Jr. or Sr. status (4) Academic achievement (5) Financial need (6) Preference given to Jackson County high school graduates

Origin: This scholarship was established in memory of Ed and Bertha Henson Reed who were lifelong residents of Jackson County. Bertha Henson Reed graduated from the Cullowhee State Normal and Industrial School (now WCU) in 1908 and taught public school in Jackson County for 18 years. Ed Reed was a Jackson County businessman.


FREDA RUSSELL RAYBURN
Undergraduate Scholarship

Amount: $2,300 (3 awards)

Criteria: (1) Business majors (2) Rising juniors or seniors (3) Women students who are outstanding leaders

Origin: Freda Russell Rayburn was a 1969 graduate of WCU with a degree in business education. She taught for 10 years in the public schools and then in 1980 founded Rayburn Home Construction, Inc. As president, she was one of the first female homebuilders in Greenville, SC. Later she formed additional companies, Rayburn Realty and Trident Resources Group, Inc. She passed away unexpectedly in 1994. To honor her memory and principles, her mother, Evelyn Kinsland Russell (also a WCU alumna), and her husband, Terry Rayburn, established the Freda Russell Rayburn Business Leadership Endowment, of which this scholarship is a part.
 


FREDA RUSSELL RAYBURN Graduate Fellowship

Amount: $7,000 (2 awards)

Criteria: (1) Graduate business student (woman) (2) Preference to women students who intend to refocus or redirect their career

Origin: Freda Russell Rayburn was a 1969 graduate of WCU with a degree in business education. She taught for 10 years in the public schools and then in 1980 founded Rayburn Home Construction, Inc. As president, she was one of the first female homebuilders in Greenville, SC. Later she formed additional companies, Rayburn Realty and Trident Resources Group, Inc. She passed away unexpectedly in 1994. To honor her memory and principles, her mother, Evelyn Kinsland Russell (also a WCU alumna), and her husband, Terry Rayburn, established the Freda Russell Rayburn Business Leadership Endowment, of which this scholarship is a part.
 


INDEPENDENT INSURANCE AGENTS of NORTH CAROLINA Scholarship

Amount: $1000 (3 awards)

Criteria: (1) Finance major, especially student who has taken (or plans to take) either FIN 400 (Insurance Planning) or FIN 401 (Life Insurance) (2) Full-time student who is a rising senior (3) Resident of North Carolina (4) Academic achievement (at least 3.0 GPA in major) (5) Evidence of participation in student activities

Origin: The IIANC is a non-profit organization that distributes its yearly profits to benefit the people of North Carolina. One arm of its philanthropy has been to support higher education through scholarships. This gift is intended to help students who are pursuing careers in insurance, risk management, or general business. Tim Laney, president of the IIANC, donated the money on behalf of his organization.


JAMES PEARCE MEMORIAL Scholarship

Amount: $500

Criteria: (1) Management major (2) Rising senior (3) Academic achievement (at least 3.0 GPA) (4) Significant service activities (5) Recipient to be selected by management faculty  


JAY I. KNEEDLER Scholarship

Amount: $1,000

Criteria: (1) Business major (2) Rising juniors or seniors (3) Academic achievement (4) Leadership ability and potential (5) Civic activities and contributions (6) Social activities and contributions (7) Moral character (8) References

Origin: Mary and Jay Kneedler established this scholarship in recognition of the dedicated service and commitment to the education of young people that had been evident in their careers. Jay Kneedler served as a faculty member in the (then) School of Business at WCU for 10 years. He also served as faculty sponsor for the student chapter of the Society for the Advancement of Management. Prior to joining Western, Mr. Kneedler had an extensive career as a manufacturing engineer with Westinghouse.


JOHN BEEGLE Scholarship

Amount: $450

Criteria: (1) Graduating senior entering the Master of Accountancy program (2) Will have completed at least sixty hours of coursework for BSBA degree at WCU (3) Academic merit (4) Financial need (4) Civic and extracurricular activities

Note: No application needed. This scholarship is administered by the MAC program in consultation with the department head and the accounting faculty.

Origin: John Beegle has been a faculty member at WCU since 1972. Professor Beegle served as Head of the Accountancy Department and Interim Dean of the College of Business. The scholarship was established in honor of his many years of dedicated service to the university and to the accounting profession.

LAURA and PHILLIP SHERRILL Scholarship

Amount: $850

Criteria: (1) Business major (or preference to finance majors) (2) Full-time student who is a rising senior (3) Resident of North Carolina (4) Academic achievement (at least 3.0 GPA in major) (5) Evidence of participation in student affairs

Origin: Laura and Phillip Sherrill live in Charlotte, NC, and have one daughter, Hannah. Phillip graduated from WCU in 1978 with a degree in business administration. Currently, he is executive vice president/treasurer of SteelFab, Inc. The Sherrills attribute much of their success to a solid college education and are proud to support future Western graduates with their gift.
 


MARY and CHARLES WAYTE Graduate Scholarship

Amount: $11,000

Criteria: (1) Fully admitted graduate student in business (2) Student who is pursuing MBA with a focus in accounting, CIS, marketing, or management (3) Preference to out-of-state students (4) Full-time student (nine or more graduate hours)

Note: No application needed. This scholarship fund is administered by the MBA Program director

Origin: This Fund honors the late Mary Smallwood Wayte, professor emeritus of education at WCU and her husband, the late Charles Fred Wayte, a professor of business at WCU. The intent of the donors was to provide scholarships for graduate students in business and education to cover out-of-state tuition, fees, and room and board.

Michael Morgan Memorial Scholarship

Amount: $2,200

Criteria: (1) Full time WCU student (2) Preference given to graduates of Western North Carolina high schools in Macon, Jackson, Transylvania, Buncombe, Henderson, Cherokee, Polk, Clay, Haywood, Graham or Swain counties, (3) Preference given to Junior and/or senior level banking majors (4) Other business majors may be considered secondarily (5) Academic and overall qualifications (6) Awards may be renewed once for no more than two years.

Origin: Established in June 2007 by Macon Bank in memory of Michael Morgan who served as First Vice President and chief Lending Officer of Macon Bank. As a member of the Executive Committee and an integral part of the leadership team, his business philosophy will be richly preserved in the history of Macon Bank.


PROJECT MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE – METROLINA Chapter Scholarship

Amount: $1,000

Criteria: (1) Enrolled in Masters of Project Management program (2) Academic merit (3) Financial need (3) Civic involvement.

Origin: The Project Management Institute – Metrolina Chapter has established an endowed fund to provide scholarship support for project management graduate students who have proven themselves to be academically deserving.
 

STEVE and LINDA REESE Scholarship

Amount: $600

Criteria: (1) Full time student (2) Business major (3) 2.75 GPA (4) Financial need (5) Recipient receives no athletic scholarship

Origin: Steve and Linda Reese of Denver, North Carolina, have established this scholarship to assist students in obtaining a business degree from Western Carolina University.

 

TED N. and FRANCES M. REESE Scholarship

Amount: $800

Criteria: (1) Marketing major (2) Full-time student who is a rising senior (3) Resident of North Carolina (4) Academic achievement (at least 3.0 GPA in major) (5) Evidence of participation in student affairs

Origin: Frances and Ted Reese own an independent insurance agency in Hendersonville, NC. Ted was born and raised in Canton, NC. His father, George, attended WCU in the early 1900s when Western was known as the Cullowhee Normal and Industrial School. The Reeses believe that education, community service, and marketing skills are critical success factors in one's career. 

TIMOTHY and BETSY GILLESPIE Scholarship

Amount: $450

Criteria: (1) Full-time business major (2) Resident of North Carolina (3) Rising senior (4) Academic achievement (at least 3.0 GPA) (5) Extracurricular activities (6) Preference given to CIS major

Origin: Dr. Timothy Gillespie is a WCU Chemistry graduate who practices dentistry in Asheville, while Betsy is a WCU CIS graduate. The Gillespies have three sons. Reflecting back to their education at Western, both Tim and Betsy believe the university was instrumental in helping them achieve success in their careers and happiness in their lives. This scholarship was established as a tangible way of giving something back.  


WILLIAM KANE Scholarship

Amount: $450

Criteria: (1) Management major (2) Full-time student who is a rising senior (3) Resident of North Carolina (4) Academic achievement (at least 3.0 GPA in major) (5) Extracurricular activities and/or financial need.  

 

XENA BRISTOL FORSYTH Scholarship

Amount: $800

Criteria: (1) Business major (2) Rising or entering juniors and seniors (3) Resident of North Carolina (4) Preference to students from counties of: Cherokee, Clay, Graham (5) Achievement and activities in previous schooling (6) Social, civic, and academic achievement and potential (7) Renewable (subject to satisfactory academic progress) until completion of degree program

Origin: This scholarship was established by Mrs. Ruth Forsyth of Murphy, NC (Cherokee County) in honor and memory of Xena Bristol Forsyth. The Fund also honors the achievements of William Frank Forsyth, son of William Thomas Forsyth and Xena Bristol Forsyth. Mr. W. Frank Forsyth was a successful banker and businessman, a distinguished state senator, and a dedicated trustee and friend of WCU. His dedication and commitment to the region are symbolized in the W. Frank Forsyth Building, home of the College of Business, on the campus of Western.