CVCC Awards Its First-Ever Presidential Graduation Awards
For the first time in its history, Catawba Valley Community College has announced recipients for its 2020 Presidential Graduation Awards.
08/17/2020
For the first time in its history, Catawba Valley Community College has announced recipients for its 2020 Presidential Graduation Awards.
Through a generous donation from Gail and Jerry Orr, the CVCC Foundation, Inc. was able to present four awards to its deserving 2020 graduates that are transferring to continue their education.
“It is amazing when community members recognize the value of a quality higher education and step up to acknowledge the importance of educational credentials through our college,” said CVCC President Dr. Garrett Hinshaw. “Thanks to the work of the CVCC Foundation, Inc., Red Hawk Nation was able to award $2,500 scholarships to four of our superstar graduates this year. These resources will help them cover the costs associated with transferring to four-year universities and opening up endless possibilities for their futures. The donor has helped to make dreams become reality.”
CVCC President Hinshaw was presented nominations by the academic deans for the Orr Scholarship. Two students from CVCC’s School of Workforce Development and The Arts and one student each from CVCC’s School of Academics and Educational Opportunities and CVCC’s School of Health and Public Service were selected to receive the awards, including:
Heather M. Koon, Associate in Arts; studying at Western Carolina University this fall to pursue a degree in Business Administration;
Kevin Anthony, Associate in Arts; studying at UNC Pembroke’s Business Administration program with a focus on Finance this fall;
Ashley Hood, Associate in Fine Arts; studying at Lenoir-Rhyne University this fall to pursue a Bachelor’s in Music Education and eventually a Master’s Degree;
and Taylor Haraszkiewicz, Associate in Applied Science; studying in the Respiratory Therapy program at UNC Charlotte starting this fall.
All four awards were presented during CVCC’s graduation ceremonies, which were held on Saturday, August 1.
The Gail and Jerry Orr Scholarship was created to enable community college students to continue their education. Mr. Orr feels deserving community college graduates sometimes are unable to pursue additional education because of finances, and he hopes as these students become successful community leaders that they will pass along this same type of help to the next generation of community college students.
“It has been a privilege for me to welcome Mr. and Mrs. Orr as CVCC Foundation partners investing in life-long learning,” said Teresa Biggs, CVCC Foundation Executive Director. “As they join the educational journey of a student they become part of that student’s entire family for generations to come. These scholarships for CVCC graduates are the first-ever in the College’s history.”
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