The Scholarship Committee was formed for the 2018-2019 year. CFGC established endowed scholarships at UNCW and Cape Fear Community College (CFCC) several years ago. The Committee was created to review contracts at both colleges and to assess the status and impact of the scholarship awards. The goals of this Committee were to:

  • Reconcile Cape Fear Garden Club records with the scholarship records at UNCW and Cape Fear Community College Development offices.
  • Review contracts with UNCW and CFCC and suggest updates or addendums to the contracts if and when needed.
  • Determine a monetary goal for each of our scholarship endowments.
    • Develop a relationship with the contacts in the development offices at UNCW and CFCC. Act as a liaison between CFGC and the development offices at UNCW and
    • Develop a relationship with the scholarship recipients.
    • Keep our club membership informed about the positive impact that our endowed scholarships have on students.
    • Publicize CFGC scholarship awards to the community.

The Co-Chairs met with a Cape Fear Community College Foundation staff member in August 2018. We gathered current monetary value information for the endowed scholarship at CFCC and reconciled with the Garden Club records. We also reviewed the scholarship contract for possible needed changes. The contract was updated and signed by 2018-2019 Cape Fear Garden Club President, Eric Kozen. It was filed at the Community College.

The CFCC student recipient, Katelyn Lewis, was contacted about attending a garden club general meeting, but she was unable to attend. The student did write a thank you letter, which was published in the Club’s monthly newsletter. The Committee Chairs also published the following information in the newsletter in order to keep our membership informed about the scholarship.

  • The Garden Club established the CFCC scholarship in January 2003 and has made annual donations since that time. As of June 30, 2018, CFGC has donated $27,100 to the fund.
  • Criteria state that Landscape Gardening students will receive the scholarship. Additional associate degrees under the Landscape Garden program were added this year.
  • Fair Market Value summary is mailed to the Garden Club at the end of each year. Market value as of June 30, 2018 was $37,435.99.
  • There is currently $1,497.00 available to be awarded in the 2018-19 academic year. This reflects a CFCC policy to award 4% each year.
  • CFGC was inducted into the McKeithan Society at CFCC in February 2019. This recognition was for donors who donated more than $50,000 to the college and included donations for scholarship and grant support.

The Scholarship Committee Chairs also contacted the Foundation office at UNCW. We received the following information about the UNCW endowed scholarship, which was included in Clippings and included the following:

  • Established in 1995 by Cape Fear Garden Club.
  • Awarded to a rising junior in the College of Arts and Sciences majoring in biological sciences.
  • Student is required to complete a four-hour course in plant biology and be willing to contribute to the operations of the Bluethenthal Wildflower preserve or other suitable programs determined by department chair.
  • Total gifts made to the fund are $47,775.00 with a market value as of June 2018 of $81,033.09.

Lindsey Bockover was awarded $3,378 for the 2018-19 academic year. She was contacted but was not available to attend a meeting. Her thank you note to members was included in Clippings.

After comparing rising tuition and other educational costs with annual endowment awards, the Scholarship Committee recommended that CFGC continue to build scholarship funds at UNCW and CFCC. The Committee will continue to maintain relationships with the Foundations at UNCW and CFCC and reach out to student recipients in hopes that we can introduce them at a general meeting.

Including scholarship information in our monthly newsletter will keep members informed. The scholarships have provided a wonderful legacy for our Club by providing educational opportunities for students seeking brighter futures.