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Taniesa L. Sullivan | The Weekly Ledger News | GSCC
GADSDEN, Ala. — The Cardinal Foundation will award $28,500 in scholarships to qualified Gadsden State Community College students for the 2023-24 academic year. Scholarships may be applied toward tuition, fees, and books.
“The Cardinal Foundation’s mission is to support Gadsden State and provide opportunities for students,” said John Roberson, director of Advancement and Alumni Relations. “Over the past decade, almost $350,000 in scholarships have been awarded by the Cardinal Foundation thanks to the generosity of those who believe in our students as well as the betterment of Alabama’s workforce.”
All scholarships will be determined by the Gadsden State Scholarship Committee and the Cardinal Foundation Scholarship Committee. Scholarship recipients must be in good standing with Gadsden State.
The Tim and Laura McCartney Career Technical Education Scholarship Fund offers three $1,500 scholarships annually to students enrolled in approved technical programs pertaining to the construction trades – Civil Engineering Technology, Drafting and Design Technology, Electrical Technology, Electronics Engineering, Industrial Automation, Mechanical Design Technology, Precision Machining, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration, Construction Technology, and Welding Technology. Applicants must have a minimum high school GPA of 2.5, be residents of Etowah County, and be seniors or graduates from a public or private school in Etowah County. Current Gadsden State students living in Etowah County are eligible for the scholarship as well. Financial needs will be considered in the selection process.
The Gerald Acker Scholarship Fund will be awarding two $2,000 scholarships. One scholarship will be awarded to a first-year student planning to enroll in Electrical Technology. The other scholarship will be awarded to a student already attending Gadsden State. Eligible students must have an overall grade point average of 2.75 or greater and must demonstrate a financial need. Scholarship recipients must have plans to work in the electrical, building, or construction trades upon graduation.
The Benjamin Steinberg Nursing Scholarship will be awarded in the amount of $500 to one Etowah County resident accepted into the Gadsden State Registered Nursing Program for the 2023 Fall Semester. A minimum GPA of 3.5 is required as well as proof of financial need.
The Dr. Aletta Williamson Leadership Scholarship is available to a full-time student who has at least a 3.0 GPA and provides evidence of leadership and volunteer hours. Two letters of recommendation should be provided by a counselor, teacher, employer, or other mentors to speak on the applicant’s character traits. The student must also write a 250- to 500-word essay focusing on the topic, “The importance of leadership in a young person’s life.” The $500 scholarship may be given on either merit or financial need basis.
The Louis and Elaine Marsalis Scholarship offers two $2,500 scholarships to residents of Cherokee County who attend classes at Gadsden State Cherokee in Centre. Recipients must be enrolled full-time in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics; have at least a 3.0 GPA; be a U.S. citizen; and be under 30 years old.
The Cardinal Foundation Calhoun County Scholarship is worth $1,500 to a current Gadsden State student who is demonstrating satisfactory academic performance and is a resident of Calhoun County.
The Cardinal Foundation Past Presidents Honorary Scholarship honors Steve Hildebrant, Mark Condra, and Brian Snell for their past service to the foundation. The $1,000 annual scholarship will include a $500 disbursement during the fall semester and a $500 disbursement during the spring semester. Eligible recipients must have at least a 3.0 GPA, and they must demonstrate participation in Gadsden State activities, community events, and leadership opportunities. A letter of recommendation is required from a member of Gadsden State’s faculty or staff.
GRIP Autocross Inc. has established a $3,500 scholarship that will benefit a Gadsden State student pursuing a career in Automotive Service Technology, Collision Repair Technology, Welding Technology, Precision Machining, or Mechanical Design Technology. The recipient may be an incoming freshman or current Gadsden State student. The scholarship is available to full-time students only who are residents of the U.S.
The Michael Scott Hatten Memorial Scholarship offers $1,000 to a qualified student in Precision Machining at the Ayers Campus. A minimum 2.75 GPA for all college courses as well as a demonstrated financial need is required.
The Tyler Union Workforce Scholarship for Electricians is worth $1,000 for a student pursuing a certificate or associate degree in Electrical Technology. The applicant must have at least a 3.0, be a U.S. citizen, and be an incoming student under the age of 30. Financial needs must be demonstrated. Priority is given to students living in Cherokee County.
The Cardinal Foundation will award five Swoop Sprint Scholarships to deserving students. Funds were raised during the Swoop Sprint 5K for the purpose of scholarship awards. All scholarships are worth $1,500. Only those who are currently enrolled as a Gadsden State student with at least a 2.5 GPA for all college courses and a demonstrated financial need are eligible for the awards. The Swoop Sprint Scholarships will be awarded to the following:
1. A student who primarily attends Gadsden State’s Ayers Campus
2. A student enrolled at any Etowah County Campus – East Broad, Wallace Drive, or Valley Street
3. A student enrolled in a technical program
4. A student who primarily attends Gadsden State Cherokee in Centre
5. A student who primarily attends the Valley Street Campus
To apply for scholarships awarded through the Cardinal Foundation, go to gadsdenstate.edu/cardinalfoundation and click on the red Scholarship button. The deadline to apply is March 7.