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Featured photo: MC Belk Pilon, President and Board Chair of the John M. Belk Endowment, and Blue Ridge Community College President Dr. Laura Leatherwood with the Student Government officials for 2024-25 at the 2025 Scholarship Appreciation Luncheon. (Photo above by Benjamin Rickert.)
High resolution event photos by Rich Keen (event) and Benjamin Rickert (photo booth) are available on Google Drive.
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The Educational Foundation of Blue Ridge Community College recently hosted the 2025 Scholarship Appreciation Luncheon in celebration of student achievement and donor support.
College donors and scholarship recipients gathered on March 27 in the Blue Ridge Conference Hall to share how donations have opened doors for the students. Several Blue Ridge leaders, including the Board of Trustees and the Educational Foundation Board of Directors, were in attendance, as well as Mayor of the City of Hendersonville and a long-time Blue Ridge supporter, Mrs. Barbara Volk. The keynote speaker was MC Belk Pilon, President and Board Chair of the John M. Belk Endowment.
Blue Ridge Community College President Dr. Laura Leatherwood began the luncheon with an expression of gratitude to the donors.
“Collectively, we have all helped to create the wonderful communities that are found across Western North Carolina and the region,” she said. “Thank you for being a critical part of this incredible journey.”
Tom Murrill, President of the Educational Foundation, gave a message on behalf of his Board of Directors. He thanked supporters for their generosity throughout the year and particularly after Hurricane Helene.
“We are grateful for your unwavering dedication to our mission,” said Murrill. “When our community faced the devastating effects of Hurricane Helene, the community and many of you with us today showed your support by contributing over $150K to support the recovery efforts of our College and our students.”
A video message featuring horticulture student Marissa Deem and nursing student Alicia Gash highlighted how scholarships have positively impacted students’ lives.
“The scholarship has definitely made life a little bit easier, financially. I already have the responsibility of being a parent, of being a student, of being a wife,” Gash said. “It really does make being a student that much better because I can give my full attention to what my attention needs to be on.”
Deem shared that the scholarships have allowed her to pursue jobs in her career field.
“My experience at Blue Ridge is much different after receiving the scholarships. I had to work full time and go to school full time, and I think my grades definitely suffered because of that,” Deem said. “Now that I have the flexibility to look for the jobs I want to, that allows me to have jobs that are furthering me on my career path.”
After lunch, MC Belk Pilon’s keynote speech highlighted how supporting community colleges benefits the whole community and state.
“We did a return-on-investment calculation on the investments in our college, and within a year of our work with the NC Reconnect initiative, we found that for every dollar invested, three dollars returned,” Pilon said. “There’s no other place you will get this kind of return-on-investment.”
A refrain of her message included the catchphrase of the Carolina Panthers – “Keep Pounding.”
“To students here today, I encourage you to embrace the challenges and opportunities that come with the same determination and resilience shown during your time here. So, as you face this next chapter in your lives, I say to you keep pounding. You are smart, you are strong, you are prepared,” Pilon said.
Trina Stokes, Executive Director of the Educational Foundation, concluded the event with heartfelt thanks to the donors, students, and the team at Blue Ridge. She also reminded students that there are many people rooting for their success.
“Your dreams are what drives us to do this important work,” Stokes said. “Remember that scholarships are not just financial support, they are recognition of your potential and our belief in your future.”
More information about the work of Blue Ridge Community College’s Educational Foundation is available at www.blueridge.edu/foundation, and scholarship information is available at www.blueridge.edu/scholarships.