Golden LEAF, an organization committed to encouraging economic growth in rural, tobacco-dependent, and economic distressed communities, announced that it would award 215 people across the state with scholarships. 

The students were eligible to receive up to $14,000. 

“We are proud to award scholarships to hardworking and bright students with deep roots in their rural communities,” said Scott T. Hamilton, Golden LEAF Foundation President, Chief Executive Officer. “These students were selected out of a pool of more than 1,600 applicants. We look forward to the future success of these scholarship recipients as they follow their education pursuits and develop into North Carolina’s next generation of rural leaders.”

Among the students selected to receive the scholarship were several within the Greater Fayetteville Business Journal’s coverage area. 

In Bladen County, the student selected was Haleigh Fields from West Bladen High School who plans to attend Gardner-Webb University. 

In Harnett County, William Nesbitt of Harnett Central High School was selected for the scholarship. He has plans to attend Western Carolina University. 

The Hoke County recipients were Justus Brewington of Hoke County High School and Amber Locklear of SandHoke Early College High School. Brewington plans to attend University of North Carolina at Pembroke and Locklear plans to attend North Carolina State University.

Robeson County had five recipients of scholarships from Golden LEAF: Ava Cox, homeschooled and NCSSM; Caroline Cummings, Purnell Swett High School; Sarah Lowry, Purnell Swett High School; Emma Norman, Lumberton Senior High School; and Aiyana Oxendine, Fairmont High School. Cox will attend Methodist University; Cummings will attend University of North Carolina at Pembroke; Lowry will attend University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Norman will attend Appalachian State University; and Oxendine will attend University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.