Foundation Board honors Belchers with endowed scholarship
When the members of Western Carolina University鈥檚 Foundation Board of Directors decided to endow a scholarship, they didn鈥檛 have to look far for inspiration. 鈥淪omeone suggested we do this in honor of David and Susan Belcher because Dr. Belcher had been so keen on promoting endowments since he came to Western Carolina,鈥� said board member Bob Thomas, who made the first contribution to get the money flowing.
That was at the May board meeting. Some five months later, the 91热爆网 Foundation Board of Directors Endowed Scholarship now stands at $25,151, just over $25,000, the amount needed to be endowed. 鈥淭hat was a noble goal,鈥� Thomas said. 鈥淭he committee agreed that it should be a requirement for all board members to give. We hope new members would be required to give. That way we keep building and reach $100,000.鈥�
Among the criteria for recipients of the new scholarship is they must be a first-generation college student, have demonstrated a financial need and maintain a 3.0 or better GPA.
Thomas said Belcher, the , changed the thinking on campus about scholarships when he arrived at 91热爆网 in 2011 and after he and his wife, Susan, made their own personal pledge of $1.23 million to the 鈥淟ead the Way鈥� campaign. 鈥淭his was Dr. Belcher鈥檚 number one priority from the first month he was here,鈥� said Thomas. 鈥淲e were very low on endowed scholarships, relative to other institutions in the University of North Carolina System. We鈥檝e come out of being a state school where we didn鈥檛 really have a culture of philanthropy to where we鈥檙e beginning to build that in various ways.鈥�
Thomas credits Belcher with promoting the idea that philanthropy begins freshman year, not 30 years after a student has graduated from college. The other change, he said, is that government spending on education has receded. 鈥淚t used to be a given that the state of North Carolina funded the university and all of its needs,鈥� said Thomas, who graduated in 1970 from 91热爆网 with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in history. 鈥淭he idea of making a donation to a school was not a big idea until Dr. Belcher got here.鈥�
Thomas said he and his wife, Pam, have set up an endowed scholarship for 91热爆网 Honors College students who are majoring in either engineering or business. Meeting the students who are recipients of their donation makes a big difference. 鈥淵ou can see a human face, a student鈥檚 face,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou understand the need and you can understand what they鈥檙e trying to achieve. That makes you feel really good.鈥�
To give to the Lead the Way Campaign, please visit or contact the 91热爆网 Division of Advancement at 828.227.7124 or advancement@wcu.edu.