George H.V. Cecil Scholarship
Students and Communities supporting each other
Established in 2002 as the Journey Scholarship, the program was renamed for George H.V. Cecil in 2020. A native of Western North Carolina and the founder and Scholarship Committee Chair, George Cecil believed in the power of education to transform lives and communities. This endowed scholarship honors his legacy by furthering educational opportunities, encouraging community service, and fostering leadership skills.
This is a four-year renewable scholarship offered to high school seniors from participating WNC Honors communities with priority given to those who have actively volunteered with their community centers. Scholarship candidates are expected to demonstrate good character, strong academic potential, dedication to community service, and leadership.
2023 General Info
Applications are closed for 2023, and will open again in early 2024.
Eligibility:
Minimum GPA of 3.0
Applicants must be verified by an officer from a WNC Honors community center or club listed on page 2 of the application. If applicants are not certain who their community center is, please reach out to our scholarship coordinator at gailparker@wnccommunities.org. Please keep in mind that it may take several days to connect with an officer, so be sure to plan ahead.
If submitting an online application is a difficulty for any reason, please contact your guidance counselor, community officer, or the scholarship coordinator for a pdf/word doc version that can be submitted either by email or by hardcopy mail. *
Active WNC Honors Communities (2023)
Ashe County: Peak Creek, Todd
Buncombe County: Avery’s Creek, Beaverdam (Candler), Big Ivy, Cane Creek, Fairview, Leicester, Newfound, Ox Creek, Rosscraggon Wood, Sandy Mush, Shiloh, Spring Mountain
Cherokee County: Bellview, Cherokee County Indian Community Club, Grape Creek, Martins Creek, Peachtree, Texana, Unaka
Clay: Brasstown
Graham County: Snowbird
Haywood County: Beaverdam (Canton), Bethel, Fines Creek, North Hominy, Saunook
Henderson County: Crab Creek, Edneyville, Mills River, Upper Hickory Nut Gorge, Upward
Jackson County: Big Y, Caney Fork, Glenville, Pumpkintown, Wolftown
Macon County: Carson, Holly Springs, Nantahala, Otto
Madison County: Center, Greater Ivy, Laurel, Revere Rice Cove, Spring Creek, Walnut Creek, Upper Laurel
Mitchell County: Tipton Hill
Rutherford County: Bills Creek, Ellenboro Woman’s Club, Gilkey School, Golden Valley, Union Mills
Swain County: Big Cove, Towstring, Yellowhill
Transylvania County: Balsam Grove, Cedar Mountain, Dunn’s Rock, Lake Toxaway, Little River
Watauga County: Deep Gap,
Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians: Big Cove, Big Y, Cherokee County Indian Community Club, Snowbird, Towstring, Yellowhill
*If mailing a hardcopy application, please notify the scholarship coordinator ahead of time and make sure it is in the mail well before the deadline. Mailed applications must be received by March 13th to be considered. Note that U.S. mail is currently experiencing slower processing times, so plan accordingly.