WCPS Class of 2008 earns millions in scholarships
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on August 13, 2008 1:39 PM
The Class of 2008 from Wayne County Public Schools will start college this fall with an estimated $12 million in renewable aid.
Students from the seven high schools in the public school system earned an array of grants, scholarships and work-study aid, officials announced this week.
Among the most prestigious awards to area students were the Gates Millenium scholarship, worth $500,000, a $216,000 Duke Trinity scholarship, and a Cornell University grant valued at $158,876.
The school system also had recipients of scholarships to Clemson, Howard and Princeton universities, as well as a Parks Scholarship recipient to attend N.C. State University and a Morehead-Cain scholarship to attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Broken down by individual schools, Charles B. Aycock High School had 53 graduates awarded 168 offers of scholarships, grants and other financial aid, totaling $526,686. Renewable aid brought the total to $2.0 million.
At Eastern Wayne High, 78 students received 281 offers for assistance, totaling $1 million or $2.6 million in renewable aid.
Goldsboro High had 56 graduates awarded 116 offers of assistance, worth $1.2 million, or $1.53 million in renewable funding.
Thirty-three graduates at Rosewood High received 83 offers for assistance worth $796,304 in scholarships, or $3.1 in renewable support.
Fifty-two Southern Wayne graduates received a total of 167 offers for assistance. The total amount was $433,021, or $1.5 million in renewable awards.
Spring Creek High had 30 graduates awarded 64 scholarships which equated to $263,715 worth of aid, $1 million in renewable money.
In the district's newest high school, Wayne Early/Middle College, 10 graduates received 27 scholarships worth $126,570 or $411.240 in renewable aid.
"We congratulate all of the recent graduates for their academic achievements," said Dr. Steven Taylor, WCPS Superintendent. "Every school in our district strives to equip students with the necessary tools to succeed in the 21st century. By taking advantage of the rigorous academic programs offered, our recent graduates have proven they can be successful in their college aspirations."