Each high school designates a Scholarship Chairperson.  A School Counselor typically fills that role at most of our high schools.  The duties include managing the development and distribution of a scholarship newsletter, maintaining hard copies of scholarships for distribution, and leading the school’s established scholarship committee.  The newsletter is published on a regular basis in multiple forms (hard copies, email, school website, school social media accounts) to students and families.  Most of the scholarships are specific to Seniors, but there are some opportunities for underclassmen.  The high school’s scholarship chairpersons are available.  Schools establish a Scholarship Committee to manage scholarships that require nominees.

Some scholarship processes are managed by WSFCS.  Those are listed below:

UNCF Scholarship

WSFCS promotes an annual giving campaign to support the United Negro College Fund.  These dollars assist with supporting a scholarship valued at p to $5,000 per academic year for one senior to assist with their undergraduate studies.  Details and the scholarship applications are available at UNCF Scholarship in the Spring of each year. Eligibility Criteria is listed below:

• WSFCS Senior
• Maintained 2.5 GPA (unweighted)
• US Citizen or Permanent Resident
• Intent to enroll in an accredited university as a Freshman

Eligible students will submit their applications online by the established due date and will interview with a district-level committee.

SECU People Helping People

WSFCS is awarded thirteen scholarships to be distributed based on the following criteria:

• SECU member of eligible to become a member at the time of application
• Senior (public school) and accepted to one of 16 UNC campuses
• US Citizen and resident of NC
• An exemplary demonstration of “People Helping People” (leadership, integrity, character, community involvement)
• Maintained at least a 2.5 GPA (unweighted)

Scholarship information is distributed to schools in December with a deadline to return one nominee and one alternate to the district designee by March 2020.  Each school will publicize the scholarship and select their students who may receive a $10,000 scholarship (over 4 years) at one of the 16 UNC Campuses once eligibility is verified.

Aubrey Lee Brooks

The North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority administers this scholarship for the Brooks Foundation that covers about half of the cost of undergraduate tuition at NC State, UNC Chapel-Hill, or UNC Greensboro.  Awards will be made annually to seniors from a 14 county area in North Carolina.  The eligibility criteria include:

• Complete an Aubrey Lee Brooks Scholarship Application
• Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and demonstrate financial need as determined by the application process;
• Plan to enroll as a full-time student in a degree-granting program at N.C. State University, UNC-Chapel Hill, or UNC-Greensboro; and
• Permanently reside and attend high school in one of the following counties: Alamance, Bertie, Caswell, Durham, Forsyth, Granville, Guilford, Orange, Person, Rockingham, Stokes, Surry, Swain, or Warren

Seniors who meet the established criteria will be interviewed by a scholarship committee at the district level in the Spring.  More information for this scholarship can be found at Aubrey Lee Brooks Scholarship

Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools Memorial Scholarship

The WSFCS Board of Education authorized the establishment of a scholarship fund that accumulates contributions for and in memory of former Board of Education members, educators, and school system employees, or members of the families of school system employees who have served the school district.  This scholarship will provide full or partial tuition payment to institutions of higher learning for deserving graduates of the WSFC Schools. 

Initial funds were solicited specifically in memory of Dr. William Sheppard and Mr. Fred Hauser.  However, funds are and will continue to be solicited and accepted for and in memory of any deceased educators, board members and family members of those who formerly served in the school system.  Contributions will be documented and recorded in the Finance Department of Central Office, and the Finance Department will also disburse awards.

A Scholarship Memorial Book listing the names of all donors and those persons in whose memory the donation was made shall be maintained in the Student Services/Guidance Department at the district’s Central Office.  Each contribution will also be acknowledged both to the donor and to the family of the person being honored.  Each year, a committee takes applications and then interviews nominated graduating senior candidates from each of the district’s high schools.  The committee normally includes a board member, a PTA Council member, School Counseling Program Manager for the district, and other representatives designated by the Superintendent.