UNCG’s Golden LEAF scholars recognized

Forty UNCG students currently receive the Golden LEAF Scholarship. These students and this important scholarship program were recognized at a reception event in the Alumni House’s Oakley Family Reception Room on April 21.

The Golden LEAF Scholarship has helped more than 6,000 students from rural North Carolina counties attend the state’s colleges and universities since it began more than 20 years ago. 

“The bright, talented UNCG students selected for these scholarships are the graduates who will bring their knowledge, skills, and leadership ability back to the towns and villages of our home state,” said Chancellor Franklin D. Gilliam, Jr. during his remarks at the reception. “To date, 119 Golden LEAF scholars have graduated from UNCG, many of whom have devoted their careers to enhancing the economies of rural communities.” 

Scholarships are worth up to $14,000 ($3,500 per year for up to four years) for high school seniors and $3,500 per year for up to three years for community college transfer students attending a participating college.

The Golden LEAF Foundation was established in 1999 to receive a portion of North Carolina’s funding received from the 1998 Master Settlement Agreement with cigarette manufacturers. It has worked to increase economic opportunity in North Carolina’s rural and tobacco-dependent communities through leadership in grantmaking, collaboration, innovation, and stewardship as an independent and perpetual foundation.

“We are proud to have Golden LEAF Scholarship recipients attending UNC Greensboro,” said Scott T. Hamilton, Golden LEAF Foundation President, Chief Executive Officer. “The Golden LEAF Scholarship is a huge honor with only 215 scholarships awarded each year from more than 1,500 applications across the state. Each of these hardworking and bright students have deep roots in their rural communities, and we are excited to see them develop into North Carolina’s next generation of leaders. There is truly no better investment in our rural communities than creating skilled, educated workers to come back to live, work, and raise families.”

Learn more about Golden LEAF Scholarships at scholars.goldenleaf.org.