Progress Energy continues support of VGCC with $7,500 contribution

Progress Energy recently presented a $7,500 contribution to the Vance-Granville Community College Endowment Fund. That brought the total donated by the company to the college over the past decade to $56,250. The funds support VGCC scholarships as well as other projects. Pictured above, from left, Jo Anna Jones, the Executive Director of the VGCC Endowment Fund, and Dr. Stelfanie Williams, the president of VGCC, formally accepted the newest donation from Progress Energy District Manager Tanya Evans on Dec. 14, 2012.

Progress Energy, the Fortune 500 power company based in Raleigh, is a longtime supporter of VGCC. The relationship between the college and the company goes back to Progress Energy’s predecessor organization, Carolina Power & Light, which also supported VGCC scholarships. After CP&L became Progress Energy, the new company started contributing to the VGCC Endowment Fund in December 2002, creating the Progress Energy Academic Achievement Scholarship. That was later upgraded to a Presidential Merit Award-level scholarship. The interest earned on Progress Energy’s contributions provides a scholarship to a VGCC student each year in perpetuity. In addition, the company has sponsored several annual (one-time, non-endowed) scholarships for students over the years. Progress Energy has also co-sponsored VGCC Endowment Fund golf tournaments and other events. In 2006, Progress Energy presented a $10,000 capacity building grant to VGCC to support the Endowment Fund’s growth.

Through the Endowment Fund and Scholarship Program , more than 6,500 scholarships have been awarded to VGCC students since 1982. Scholarships have been established by individuals, industries, businesses, civic groups, churches and the college’s faculty and staff.