Donate to the Madison County Chamber of Commerce Scholarship Fund

I appreciate that Madison County Chamber of Commerce invested in me as a scholarship recipient. The award was beneficial in continuing my education at Appalachian State University, where I graduated with university honors and honors in the department of communication.

 
While at Appalachian State, I gained valuable experience through internships at WBTV, 99.9 Kiss Country, and WLOS, plus I served as the station manager of the campus radio station and was an Appalachian Student Ambassador. 

I launched my career as a television news journalist the day following college graduation.

 
I am thrilled to serve my community by sharing the positive stories of my hometown on WLOS News 13.

 A big thanks to the Chamber for supporting local students and encouraging them to follow their dreams! ×

I had always worked hard in high school and wanted to go to a good college. I quickly realized that college was very expensive and I knew I had to have scholarships in order to get there.

 
With the Chamber of Commerce’s scholarship, it put me over the top in being able to afford my first year at North Carolina State University. I graduated with two degrees, a BS in Agriculture Business Management and a BS in Agricultural Science with concentrations in leadership and technology. I graduated in December 2014 and was hired that next month into the Marketing Training Class at Caterpillar Inc.

 
I am now living in Sacramento, California, and still working at Caterpillar as an Industry Sales and Service Representative. I work with the Cat dealers in Northern California and Oregon in creating and managing their annual business plan, assisting with regional marketing initiatives, and support the salesmen with product information as well as work closely with Caterpillar engineers when a machine has a failure.

 
Without the Chamber’s scholarship, I could never have afforded college. I have been fortunate to live in Illinois and California over the last four years. I’m blessed to have such a great job and all that stems from the support from my hometown.

 
I encourage the Chamber to keep this scholarship. It doesn’t take much to give a student that final dollar that allows them to take advantage of opportunities that will impact their life forever.  ×

I graduated from Madison High School, earned a B.S. and M.A. from Appalachian State University, and completed my first semester as a Ph.D. Candidate in Political Science at Purdue University. Beyond coursework, I have also had opportunities to travel abroad, gain leadership experience, and grow in both a personal and professional capacity.

 
The support of my community, realized in part by receiving the Madison County Chamber of Commerce scholarship, has been invaluable as I have pursued higher education and my career. Although my experiences have often led me away from Madison County, I am continually struck by the beauty of my home and the kindness and strength of its close-knit community when I return. It has and continues to shape me.

 
I plan to pursue and earn a Ph.D. in Political Science in the coming years, with the ultimate goal of becoming a professor and researcher. I believe that this career path will allow me to contribute to a community, and I sincerely hope that my permanent home will be nestled in the mountains of Madison County. Further, I hope that I can join the community that supports its students as they pursue their dreams. I know from experience that it can have a lasting impact.

 
Thank you again for choosing me as a recipient of the Madison County Chamber of Commerce scholarship. I continue to be deeply honored. ×