West End Baptist Church Endows VGCC scholarship

West End Baptist Church has endowed a new scholarship to support students enrolled at Vance-Granville Community College. The newly established scholarship represents years of dedication and contributions from West End Baptist Church (WEBC).

By donating $15,000 to the VGCC Foundation (VGCCF), the church has established this scholarship at the “Presidential Merit Award” level; that means that future student recipients will receive a scholarship of $750 per year to cover tuition, books, and fees at the college. The scholarship will be available to students in Vance County from the Fall 2023/Spring 2024 academic year onward. Preference will be given to students who have a minimum 2.5 high school or college GPA, are enrolled in at least 9 credit hours, and have membership at West End or the referral of a church member.

West End Baptist Church holds a well-established presence in Henderson. The church will celebrate its centennial anniversary this May, and it has been at its current location on Dabney Drive since 1944. Cade M. Patterson, who pastors West End Baptist Church, sees this gift as a natural extension of the church’s mission within the community.

“I’m grateful to serve this generous congregation,” said Patterson. “As a church, West End strives to love our neighbors, just as Jesus commanded us. We hope that this scholarship is a gift that will lead people to consider Christ’s incredible generosity toward us.”

Church treasurer Jerry Parrish and church member Bobby Van Brunt recently joined Patterson in presenting a check to the Vance-Granville Community College Foundation. Van Brunt is both a WEBC member and former VGCC employee, and he played a major part in making the scholarship a success.

“We are proud to partner with VGCC to enable deserving students to further their education,” Van Brunt commented. “Whether the choice is technical education or foundation for a university degree, students will achieve success for themselves while becoming an asset to the community.”

“This scholarship presents another wonderful opportunity to expand resources that will allow us to educate, inspire, and support a diverse community of learners to achieve professional and personal success,” said Tanya S. Weary, VGCCF Executive Director.

The VGCC Foundation offers over 300 endowments for scholarships VGCC students—more endowed scholarships than any other program of its kind in North Carolina. Scholarships have been endowed by numerous individuals, industries, businesses, civic groups, and churches, as well as the college’s faculty and staff. Tax-deductible donations to the VGCC Foundation have often been used to honor a person, group, business, or industry with a lasting gift to education. For more information, call (252) 738-3409.

Students interested in applying for VGCC scholarships are encouraged to apply beginning in mid-April.