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CCC&TI announces scholarships for Valle Crucis Middle School students

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CCC&TI President Dr. Mark Poarch embraces CCC&TI foundation board chair Peg Broyhill. Photo courtesy of CCC&TI

This story was originally published by Watauga Online.

Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute (CCC&TI) announced that it will provide scholarships for each of the middle school students currently finishing out their school year on the college’s Watauga campus in Boone. The scholarships, awarded through the foundation of CCC&TI, will provide assistance to cover up to five semesters of tuition at CCC&TI.

The 120 middle school students are completing their academic year on the College’s Watauga campus due to catastrophic damage to the existing Valle Crucis School from Hurricane Helene. Construction on a new school is underway but not slated for completion until this summer leaving all of VCS students displaced. In addition to CCC&TI, Valle Crucis Conference Center and Holy Cross Church is hosting kindergarten through 5th grade students and Appalachian State University’s Child Development Center is hosting pre-k students. 

CCC&TI President Dr. Mark Poarch announced the initiative at a recent event on the college’s Watauga campus. 

“Most of you know about the Valle Crucis School situation and the challenges those students, that community and our school system have had to deal with due to the impact of the hurricane. If you are not aware, we have been honored to host Valle Crucis School’s principal Dr. Bonnie Smith and her team along with 120 sixth through eighth grade students since October,” said Poarch.

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“It has been a real privilege for us to be part of the solution for Watauga County Schools and Valle Crucis. It has brought new energy and new life to this campus unlike anything we’ve ever seen before, and affirms our belief that partnerships matter,” said Poarch.

Poarch shared that these students have been exposed to many positives through the partnership and have had the opportunity to learn more about college programs and how they connect to industries and have experienced things that not many middle schoolers are exposed to. 

“I think there are a lot of silver linings in having them on a college campus,” said Poarch who then called up Peg Broyhill, chair of the college’s foundation for the special announcement. “Our foundation has committed to guarantee a scholarship for all current VCS middle school students,” said Poarch to a round of applause from those gathered for the event.

Valle Crucis Middle School students getting off the bus. Photo courtesy of CCC&TI

“These students have not had a normal year and we wanted to do something special for them. They’re getting to know this campus and we want them to know that they have an opportunity to come back to a place they’re already familiar with and that they know cares about them and their future,” said Poarch.

Following the announcement, CCC&TI mailed letters to the parents of each middle schooler with detailed information about the scholarship opportunity for their child. 

The letter to parents reads in part: “This scholarship is more than financial assistance, it’s a celebration of the resilience, courage, and determination these students have shown every day. We already think of these students as future cobras and want to make college possible for all who wish to enroll at CCC&TI.”