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Our Impact

With contributions from donors like you, the Foundation is able to support innovation and collaboration at Blue Ridge Community College. Together, we’re creating impact throughout our community.

Scholarship Recipients

View 2020-21 Educational Foundation Scholarship Awards

Blue Ridge Graduate Stacy Hill tells her story

Check out this video of Blue Ridge HRD Instructor Stacy Hill sharing her story and the reasons she supports the Educational Foundation.

Wehrheim bequeaths $1.75 million to Blue Ridge Community College

Blue Ridge Community College Educational Foundation has received a $1.75 million bequest from the estate of Mrs. Liselotte R. Wehrheim (pictured). This bequest will provide scholarships and other program support for healthcare training programs at Blue Ridge Community College. This gift is the largest single gift from an individual in the history of the College.

“This gift is the largest single gift from an individual in the history of the College.”

Wehrheim passed away in Tryon, North Carolina, in August of 2019 at the age of 103. She grew up in Germany, where she studied nursing and served as a nurse in World War II. She moved to the United States in 1954, where she continued in her nursing profession before retiring with her husband in North Carolina. Wehrheim understood the importance of a college education and loved seeing students work hard to improve their lives.

“More than half of Blue Ridge students receive some kind of financial support while a student here,” said Blue Ridge Community College President Dr. Laura B. Leatherwood. “This gift will allow us to expand academic programs and provide support for students pursuing a career in healthcare. We strive to provide both quality and affordability, and it is through the generous support of donors like Liselotte Wehrheim that we are able to achieve those goals. We are humbled and grateful for her overwhelming generosity.”

Hans and Liselotte Wehrheim retired and moved to Flat Rock, North Carolina in the mid-1990s from Pennsylvania. An endowed scholarship fund at Blue Ridge Community College was established in their names in 2005. Though retired, Liselotte remained active in charities such as the Shriners Hospital for Children and her church. Her main passions, however, were her love of learning and travel. Liselotte remained active and traveled back and forth to Germany into her late 90s. She also engaged in lifelong learning classes at Blue Ridge Community College well into her eighties. According to her friend, Christa Hartley, “She never wanted to stop learning.”

About Blue Ridge Community College Educational Foundation: The Blue Ridge Community College Educational Foundation was established in 1975 as a nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization and operates for the sole benefit and support of Blue Ridge Community College and its students. Since its inception, the Foundation has expanded its portfolio to more than $14 million. Through the generous support of alumni, community friends, corporations, and private foundations, the Foundation works to expand access to higher education and further regional workforce development. By raising funds for scholarships, program and infrastructure improvements, and grants for faculty and staff, the Foundation strives to ensure that resources are available to meet the needs of both students and our rapidly growing local economy.

A Gift From The Heart

Luis Santiago was born and raised in New York City and likely never imagined that he and his wife Judith would end up retiring in a small southern town like Hendersonville. Yet here they are; over 20 years after their first visit to the community, the Santiagos have indeed found their home. What’s more, they’ve put down roots that continue to cultivate growth in young scholars.

Always seeking out ways to further their education, the Santiagos were delightfully surprised to find a higher education option for seniors in the Blue Ridge Center for Lifelong Learning at Blue Ridge Community College. The couple took their first course in 1998 and quickly became very active in the program. Luis became chair of the program committee and ultimately, president of the group. As active members, the Santiagos were invited to attend a scholarship luncheon and from that point forward, they became ardent champions for the educational impact that the College has on its students.

“…the Santiagos were invited to attend a scholarship luncheon and from that point forward, they became ardent champions for the educational impact that the College has on its students.”

Judith admits that she had her preconceived notions about community colleges, but after that luncheon, it completely changed her view. Listening to student success stories and seeing the impact that a two-year degree or a certificate could have in the lives of a young adult opened her eyes. She and Luis have always had a desire to give and support nonprofit organizations, but neither considered themselves wealthy, or as Luis puts it, “a Rockefeller.” What they concluded from that luncheon over 10 years ago was that there were people in their newly adopted community that were having a hard time furthering their education. “Maybe there’s a little something that we can do to help,” thought Luis. “That’s when we started supporting the studies of some of the students.”

The Blue Ridge Community College Educational Foundation provided an opportunity to give at whatever amount they could – and make an impact. Because of his Hispanic heritage, Luis wanted to support Spanish speaking students. After a hospitalization, Judith realized the importance of nursing and wanted to find ways to support careers in healthcare. The Educational Foundation found ways to pair the Santiagos with students and career paths that aligned with their personal impact goals.

Since 2007, an Endowment established by the Santiagos has funded 18 scholarships for Blue Ridge Community College students. Luis and Judith have been fortunate to have met a few of the students who have benefited from their support, watching them graduate with nursing degrees or certificates that will allow them to reach their career goals.

Cesilia Baltazar wanted to save lives, but she also had to think about saving money.

One driving force for this dream was her childhood experiences at clinics with her grandmother. Cesilia would often translate between doctors and her grandmother, who is not fluent in English. At a young age, she witnessed how communication barriers often impeded a patient’s ability to achieve better health outcomes.

Originally from Mexico, Cesilia’s parents did not complete high school. As a first-generation college student, Cesilia will earn a Doctor of Pharmacy degree not only for herself, but for her parents who are living their dreams by seeing Cesilia reach her summit.

“As a first-generation college student, Cesilia will earn a Doctor of Pharmacy degree not only for herself, but for her parents who are living their dreams by seeing Cesilia reach her summit.”

Despite her ambitions, Cesilia also knew that neither she nor her parents could afford medical school. During her sophomore year at North Henderson High School, Cesilia reached out to Kirby Farley, career coach at Blue Ridge Community College, to learn more about the Career and College Promise program, which offers tuition-free college classes to high school juniors and seniors that count for both high school and college credits.

While Cesilia was dual enrolled, Blue Ridge Psychology Instructor Deborah DeWitt told her about an expanded pharmacy career pathway for local public high school students that would guarantee an interview with Wingate University’s School of Pharmacy. Cesilia could complete the new Associate in Science Pathway to Wingate University School of Pharmacy degree program on her path to earning a Doctor of Pharmacy in only six years – while saving thousands by initially attending Blue Ridge for two years.

Cesilia is the first student from her high school to enroll in this career-ready academic pathway, and she has inspired her medically-minded peers to attend in the future.

Following her high school graduation, Cesilia also applied for and received a $1,000 IMPACT Scholarship from the Blue Ridge Community College Educational Foundation. “My parents and I are so grateful for this scholarship because it allows me to focus on my academics and pursue my dreams without worrying about paying for college,” she said.

Cesilia hopes to transfer to the Wingate University School of Pharmacy in fall 2021. After earning her Doctor of Pharmacy degree, she is considering a traveling pharmacist career to help overcome the communication barriers between providers and patients, particularly within the Hispanic/Latino community.

Student Panel