The Kiwanis Club of Hickory awarded up to $52,500 in seven college scholarships for this coming fall semester at our interviews held at the Salt Block on May 8.
The Hickory Kiwanis Club turned 104 years old on May 12. It began its scholarship program in 1925 with the establishment of the Baxter Gilliam Memorial Scholarship to honor youth who had been fatally injured in a Lenoir-Rhyne College football game with High Point College.
A scholarship for girls was created later to honor Dr. P. E. Monroe, former president of Lenoir-Rhyne College, president of The Hickory Kiwanis Club in 1927, a minister at Trinity Lutheran Church and a member of the Hickory Kiwanis Club for many years.
Another scholarship was created in 1960 and named the Thomas P. Pruitt Scholarship for higher education in theological training. In 1965, scholarships to help African American students to attend Lenoir-Rhyne College were offered.
In the late 1960s, the late Charles D. “Charlie” Dixon created a scholarship-granting entity through the newly founded Hickory Kiwanis Foundation with the Kiwanis Clubs of Hickory and Western Catawba both contributing. Many thanks to the late Dr. Grimes Byerly, a long-standing member of the Hickory Kiwanis Club. He documented the many Kiwanis projects, including scholarships, from 1921-1976 in a booklet he authored during his term as president in 1976.
The Kiwanis Foundation Scholarship Program has grown with donors’ gifts and by having an invested endowment to focus on undergraduate-degree scholarships which number between 15 to 20 Kiwanis Scholars each year. These run a total of $50,000 to $55,000 awarded each year.
This year the Hickory Kiwanis awarded four new $3,000 annual scholarships renewable for up to four years by keeping GPA above 2.0 and completing at least 12 semester hours. Two one-time merit scholarships for $1,500 and one Zahra Baker Scholarship for $1,500 were also awarded.
Martinez
The first student interviewed was Rubi Martinez from Hickory High School, who is the youngest in her family and the first generation to become a college student. Rubi plans to attend Appalachian State University seeking a degree in building science and construction management so she can help to build her father’s construction business. Her passion for the construction business has grown through working part time with her father. Rubi was awarded a full four-year scholarship.
Clay
Our second Kiwanis Scholar, winning a four-year scholarship, was Ava Clay from Fred T. Foard High School. She graduated cum laude, belonged to the International, Art and Beta Clubs, and played tennis while at Foard. Ava wants to attend Appalachian State University in the fall and major in psychology to pursue a career as a clinical counselor.
Lillie
The next full four-year scholar selected by the Kiwanis interview committee was Madalyn Lillie to pursue her dream of becoming a pediatrician. She has earned her CNA (certified nursing assistant) and worked part time in an assisted-living facility while finishing high school. Madalyn was a four-year member of the Foard cheering team, played soccer and was a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. She served on the Student Council as senior class officer. She was also president of the health care oriented “Scrub Club.” She plans to attend Catawba Valley Community College this fall to get an associate degree, then move on to Western Carolina or Gardner-Webb University to continue her education in the medical field and eventually becoming a pediatrician.
Coats
Tyzshae Coats, graduating from Hickory High School, received the fourth full four-year scholarship to attend the University of Florida to pursue his dream of being an aerospace engineer. He graduated in the top 12% of the class of 2025 while taking many challenging AP (advanced placement, college level) courses and was named an AP Scholar with Honor, and an AP Capstone Diploma Candidate. He has committed a lot of his out of school time helping care for his grandmother several hours each week while helping her other elderly neighbors with their electronic needs with technology.
Parlier
A Kiwanis Merit Scholarship was awarded to Micah Parlier, a Fred T. Foard High School member of the Class of 2025. Micah would like to pursue a career in nursing and has clinical experience as a certified nursing assistant while in high school. He plans to attend CVCC to earn an associate’s degree in nursing science and then work at the hospital level while working to earn a CRNA degree (certified registered nurse anesthetist) which is a registered nurse who has specialized training in anesthesia. A CRNA can administer anesthesia for procedures and surgeries. Micah hopes to work in a hospital in an emergency room, operating room or intensive care unit.
Streeter
Another Kiwanis Merit Scholarship awardee, Coreece Streeter, will graduate from Hickory High School this year. Coreece’s extracurricular activities in high school included marching band, Culture Club, baseball and track and field team. He also served as a Senior Class Representative and was named a “Student of Distinction.” Coreece plans to move on to seek higher education at North Carolina A&T to pursue a degree in music education.
Colby Crouch, a senior of Fred T. Foard High School, was named a Kiwanis Zahra Baker Scholarship recipient this year to attend CVCC and work toward a degree in accounting to put his love of math to work as a career. His references spoke highly of his promptness and splendid work ethics as well as his affinity for mathematics.
Crouch
The Hickory Kiwanis are excited to present these scholarship opportunities to students who may be the first in their family to enroll in higher education and need extra funding to pursue their dreams. We look forward to the accomplishments of these young folks who are preparing to be contributors to the future of our area or wherever they may land in life.
Danny Seaver is a member of the Hickory Kiwanis Foundation.
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Martinez
Clay
Lillie
Coats
Parlier
Streeter
Crouch
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