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The 2016 Wilson Scholars are pictured with Carole and Brad Wilson, center.

Six students honored with Wilson Scholarship

They are ‘passionate about service’ and ‘dedicated to understanding the world around them’

“The caliber of students applying for this scholarship program is outstanding.”

Dr. David Marlett, faculty director of the Wilson Scholars Program

By Linda Coutant and Megan Hayes
Posted Aug. 24, 2016 at 9:54 a.m.

BOONE, N.C. — Fahiima Mohamed has spoken before the United Nations, Grace Bowling spent a year volunteering with a health care initiative in Bolivia, while Vicky Anderson mentored peers through her leadership in the National Honor Society and varsity swim team. Jake Powell is an Eagle Scout, Javon Nathaniel served as a student advisor to his school district’s superintendent, and Anisha Sharma started a sustainability council at her school.

“The caliber of students applying for this scholarship program is outstanding.”

Dr. David Marlett, faculty director of the Wilson Scholars Program

Meet the 2016 recipients of Appalachian State University’s Wilson Scholarship, which provides a full-ride education and is the university’s most prestigious merit-based scholarship. Appalachian’s Wilson Scholars are chosen based on their academic achievements, as well as their service and leadership in their communities and schools. Their experience as Wilson Scholars at Appalachian embodies a rich blend of academic excellence, leadership and service.

More than 1,400 incoming freshmen applications were reviewed for this year’s Wilson Scholarship.

“The caliber of students applying for this scholarship program is outstanding,” said Dr. David Marlett, faculty director of the Wilson Scholars Program. “They are independent, creative and critical thinkers who are passionate about service and dedicated to understanding the world around them.”

Meet the 2016 Class of Wilson Scholars

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Victoria “Vicky” Anderson

Anderson is from Rutherfordton, where she is a member of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and mentored other students through her leadership in the National Honor Society and varsity swim team and as student body president of Lake Lure Classical Academy.

She represented her school in the community in numerous ways – writing for her hometown newspaper, volunteering with children and families through food security and literacy programs, and working for her local humane society. Her work experience includes management positions at a local restaurant and farm stand. Her intended major is criminal justice.

“It is my hope that the education and college experience offered at Appalachian will aid me by exposing me to many new experiences, by establishing a strong knowledge base, increasing interpersonal skills, and broadening my understanding about the growing interconnection of our world,” Anderson said.

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Grace Bowling

Bowling graduated from Watauga High School in three years and spent a “gap year” volunteering with Consejo de Salud Rural Andino, a non-profit health care initiative serving low-income, rural, Bolivian families.

To help fund her ability to travel to and live in Bolivia, she established her own small business called Bolivia-Bound Bakery selling baked goods, soups, breads and granola she made herself. An avid blogger and songwriter, Bowling was a student-athlete who was also a member and leader in several service clubs, including the Key Club, National Honor Society and Spanish Club. Her intended major is languages, literatures and cultures.

About her ambitions for personal and academic growth at Appalachian, Bowling said, “I want to make sure that I will never be the kind of person who travels the world but doesn’t take the time to learn at least a little of a new language.”

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Fahiima Mohamed

Mohamed graduated from Raleigh Charter High School. Her background includes work for the President of Somalia, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Somalia and the United States Committee for Refugees and Immigrants. In 2015, she attended the United Nations General Assembly and publicly addressed the assembly as a member of the Somali delegation.

Her volunteer work includes numerous mentorship activities for children in the Raleigh area, as well as community projects such as book drives, donation drives for resettled refugees and community work days. A Somali native, she is multilingual and dedicated to creating positive change in the lives of people displaced by war. Her intended major is biology.

“As a young Somali woman, I am affected by problems faced by women and people of color. I know that with an education, I have a chance to try and make an impact to make life easier for as many people as possible,” Mohamed said.

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Javon Nathaniel

Nathaniel is from Charlotte. He completed a five-year program at Union County Early College High School, where he graduated with both a high school diploma and associate degree. His background includes leadership positions at his high school and in his community. He was a student advisor to the Union County Public Schools superintendent, providing input on changes in the school system, a school and community advocate in the prevention of teen dating violence and student government leader.

Passionate about issues of equity and race relations, Nathaniel was both a mentor and mentee in youth programs for minority males. His intended major is international business.

“I want to find other students who are willing to be vocal in their community and help dictate change,” he said. “With the aid of these impactful students, I will open forums on campus for other students to express their thoughts on race-related issues.”

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William “Jake” Powell

Powell of Cary is an Eagle Scout. While a student at Athens Drive High School, he was a varsity athlete on the swim and soccer teams, as well as a junior varsity assistant coach. His academic coursework focused on utilizing numerous engineering concepts to solve problems in the field of sustainability.

Powell’s activities include membership on his school’s debate team, tutoring students in physics and working on environmental beautification projects for local schools and parks. His intended major is environmental science.

“I would like to solve the problems caused by pollution so that future generations can enjoy a healthier and cleaner environment. Raising awareness through education, and implementing affordable green technology worldwide are key steps to solving these problems,” he said.

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Anisha Sharma

Sharma is from Summerfield and graduated from Greensboro Day School. Her community involvement includes serving on the Greensboro Beautiful and Greensboro Parks and Recreation’s Clean City Committee, working with the Indian Association of the Triad and tutoring children at a local refugee center.

Passionate about environmental sustainability initiatives, she founded and served as president of the Greensboro Country Day School Student Sustainability Council. She also was president of her school’s Environmental Club and chair of the Environmental Awareness Committee for the National Honor Society. She also was involved in the performing arts and was active in her school’s theatre and choral ensemble programs. Her intended major is biology.

“Through collaboration with others, intellectual exploration, and personal efforts to promote pluralism, equality, and justice, I hope to become a better contributor to the world,” Sharma said.

What do you think?

Share your feedback on this story.

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About the donors

The Wilson Scholarship was established as Appalachian’s premier scholarship in 2013 by Brad and Carole Wilson of Raleigh, who are both 1975 graduates of the university. Brad Wilson is CEO of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina and Carole Wilson is a member of the Appalachian State University Board of Trustees.

Current Number of Wilson Scholars

14

About the scholarship

  • $15,056 per-year award for tuition, fees, book rental, and room and board for four years
  • 3.45 minimum grade point average to renew the scholarship
  • $2,500 annual stipend to pursue academic and service projects
  • This year’s recipients will also take a weeklong academic trip to Costa Rica in October.

Selection Criteria

  • academic achievements
  • service and leadership in community and school

Benefits of being a Wilson Scholar

  • gaining a personalized educational experience in and outside the classroom, designed in partnership with the faculty director
  • learning to incorporate passions into life and career goals
  • participating in specially designed seminars
  • engaging in international experiences
  • designing capstone projects
  • focusing on an area of community and self-discovery
  • internships, research and study abroad
Wilson Scholars – service and sustainability education in Costa Rica
Wilson Scholars – service and sustainability education in Costa Rica
Aug. 24, 2016

Learn about the 2016 Wilson Scholars’ upcoming sustainability education trip to Costa Rica’s Monteverde Institute.

Read the story
Commitment to service, leadership and academics are hallmarks of the Wilson Scholars
Commitment to service, leadership and academics are hallmarks of the Wilson Scholars
June 15, 2015

The Wilson Scholars Program is Appalachian State University’s most prestigious full-ride, merit-based scholarship. The 2015 class arrives on campus soon.

Read the story
Wilson Scholars begin college with study abroad in France
Wilson Scholars begin college with study abroad in France
Sep. 19, 2014

The Wilson Scholars program welcomes four inaugural scholars, who began their Appalachian Experience with study abroad.

Read the story
Scholarships at Appalachian
Scholarships at Appalachian

Appalachian State University offers students the opportunity to receive a world-class education at an affordable rate through various need- and merit-based scholarships. The university sets aside more than $4 million annually for scholarships, with scholarship opportunities available to incoming, current and transfer students. Appalachian’s Office of University Scholarships assists students in learning about and applying for these university scholarship opportunities and also shares information about non-Appalachian scholarships.

Learn more

About the Wilson Scholars Program

The Wilson Scholars Program, Appalachian State University's premier scholarship program, embodies the true Appalachian spirit: a rich blend of academic excellence, leadership and service. This scholarship program attracts passionate individuals, instills in them a commitment to change the world, and provides the resources for them to think creatively, strategically and collaboratively. Established in 2013 with a generous gift by 1975 Appalachian alumni Carole and Brad Wilson, the program welcomed its inaugural class in the fall of 2014. Students represent a variety of majors and disciplines — from business and science, to the arts and humanities. Learn more at https://wilsonscholars.appstate.edu.

About Appalachian State University

As the premier public undergraduate institution in the Southeast, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives as global citizens who understand and engage their responsibilities in creating a sustainable future for all. The Appalachian Experience promotes a spirit of inclusion that brings people together in inspiring ways to acquire and create knowledge, to grow holistically, to act with passion and determination, and to embrace diversity and difference. Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Appalachian is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System. Appalachian enrolls nearly 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and graduate majors.

View larger image

About the donors

The Wilson Scholarship was established as Appalachian’s premier scholarship in 2013 by Brad and Carole Wilson of Raleigh, who are both 1975 graduates of the university. Brad Wilson is CEO of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina and Carole Wilson is a member of the Appalachian State University Board of Trustees.

Current Number of Wilson Scholars

14

About the scholarship

  • $15,056 per-year award for tuition, fees, book rental, and room and board for four years
  • 3.45 minimum grade point average to renew the scholarship
  • $2,500 annual stipend to pursue academic and service projects
  • This year’s recipients will also take a weeklong academic trip to Costa Rica in October.

Selection Criteria

  • academic achievements
  • service and leadership in community and school

Benefits of being a Wilson Scholar

  • gaining a personalized educational experience in and outside the classroom, designed in partnership with the faculty director
  • learning to incorporate passions into life and career goals
  • participating in specially designed seminars
  • engaging in international experiences
  • designing capstone projects
  • focusing on an area of community and self-discovery
  • internships, research and study abroad

“The caliber of students applying for this scholarship program is outstanding.”

Dr. David Marlett, faculty director of the Wilson Scholars Program

Wilson Scholars – service and sustainability education in Costa Rica
Wilson Scholars – service and sustainability education in Costa Rica
Aug. 24, 2016

Learn about the 2016 Wilson Scholars’ upcoming sustainability education trip to Costa Rica’s Monteverde Institute.

Read the story
Commitment to service, leadership and academics are hallmarks of the Wilson Scholars
Commitment to service, leadership and academics are hallmarks of the Wilson Scholars
June 15, 2015

The Wilson Scholars Program is Appalachian State University’s most prestigious full-ride, merit-based scholarship. The 2015 class arrives on campus soon.

Read the story
Wilson Scholars begin college with study abroad in France
Wilson Scholars begin college with study abroad in France
Sep. 19, 2014

The Wilson Scholars program welcomes four inaugural scholars, who began their Appalachian Experience with study abroad.

Read the story
Scholarships at Appalachian
Scholarships at Appalachian

Appalachian State University offers students the opportunity to receive a world-class education at an affordable rate through various need- and merit-based scholarships. The university sets aside more than $4 million annually for scholarships, with scholarship opportunities available to incoming, current and transfer students. Appalachian’s Office of University Scholarships assists students in learning about and applying for these university scholarship opportunities and also shares information about non-Appalachian scholarships.

Learn more

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Appalachian Today is an online publication of Appalachian State University. This website consolidates university news, feature stories, events, photo galleries, videos and podcasts.

The migration of materials from other sites is still incomplete, so if you cannot find what you're looking for here, please refer to the following sources:

  • Additional feature stories may be found at Appalachian Magazine
  • Podcasts may be found at Appalachian Magazine
  • Photo galleries and videos published prior to Jan. 1, 2015 may be found at Appalachian Magazine
  • A university-wide Google Calendar may be found at Events at Appalachian

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Archives

Appalachian Today is an online publication of Appalachian State University. This website consolidates university news, feature stories, events, photo galleries, videos and podcasts.

The migration of materials from other sites is still incomplete, so if you cannot find what you're looking for here, please refer to the following sources:

  • Additional feature stories may be found at Appalachian Magazine
  • Podcasts may be found at Appalachian Magazine
  • Photo galleries and videos published prior to Jan. 1, 2015 may be found at Appalachian Magazine
  • A university-wide Google Calendar may be found at Events at Appalachian
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