Golden LEAF Scholar Alumna Spotlight: Sydney Coe

Golden LEAF Scholar Alumna Sydney Coe grew up in Siloam, North Carolina, a small community in Surry County where she now teaches third grade at Dobson Elementary School. A proud product of rural North Carolina, Coe says coming back home after college was always part of her plan.

“I grew up in Siloam,” said Coe. “I have a lot of roots there and I wanted to give back to the community that gave so much to me and made me who I am today.”

Golden LEAF Scholar Alumni Spotlight: Jeffrey Wilkins

Golden LEAF Scholar Alumnus Jeffrey Wilkins grew up in the small town of Micro located in Johnston County, where no one was a stranger.

Golden LEAF Rural Internship Initiative participants share rural work experiences

This summer, 71 Golden LEAF Scholars are participating in the Golden LEAF Rural Internship Initiative (RII), an opportunity designed to provide hands-on, career-relevant work experience in rural North Carolina communities. Three senior scholars, Joe Bolick, Caitlyn Rogers, and Nyanna Sherrod, who have participated in several summers of RII share how their internships are shaping their professional paths and deepening their connections to their home regions.

Golden LEAF Scholar Alumni Spotlight: Chandler Bumgarner

By Emma Godwin, Golden LEAF External Affairs Intern Golden LEAF Scholar alumnus Chandler Bumgarner grew up in Taylorsville, N.C., in rural Alexander County, holding a sense of community close to his heart. This sense of community was significant as he began his college career at Western Carolina University. Chandler Bumgarner’s closest friends from back home […]

Universities hold events to honor Golden LEAF Scholars, ECU celebrates 10 years of scholar receptions

Golden LEAF President, Chief Executive Officer Scott T. Hamilton has made it a priority to meet with Golden LEAF Scholars at their college or university to help connect them with the mission of and opportunities provided by Golden LEAF, the leadership of the institution they are attending, alumni, and their fellow scholars. This spring, the […]

Golden LEAF Alumni Spotlight: Brooklyn Brown

By Golden LEAF External Affairs Interns Brittney Collins and Markell Gibbs Golden LEAF Scholarship alumnae Brooklyn Brown was born and raised in rural Swain County, on the Cherokee Indian Reservation. She currently lives in Swain County and works at the Cherokee One Feather as a reporter. Brown graduated from Swain County High School as valedictorian, […]

Golden LEAF Scholarship Alumni Spotlight Article: Zach Jones

By Karizma Greene, Golden LEAF External Affairs Intern Zach Jones, a Golden LEAF Scholarship alumnus, finds home in rural Robeson County, North Carolina. Jones attended Robeson Community College (RCC) for two years then transferred to the University of North Carolina at Pembroke (UNCP) in 2008, where he studied education. UNCP’s motto, “Education changes lives,” resonated […]

Congratulations to the Golden LEAF Scholars graduating class of 2023

By Brittney Collins, Golden LEAF Scholarship Program Intern Since 2000, Golden LEAF has awarded approximately 6,000 scholarships to students from rural communities who are graduating with the skills, passion, and leadership experiences to help their home communities thrive. This year, 120 Golden LEAF Scholars are graduating from a North Carolina college or university. “I am […]

Golden LEAF Scholarship Alumni Spotlight: Jessica Blackwell

By Savanna Ramirez, Golden LEAF External Affairs Intern Golden LEAF Scholarship alumna Jessica Blackwell grew up in a rural community in Columbus County as a farmer’s daughter. She rode tractors and learned how to deal with different farm equipment over the years. Her grandfather was a tobacco farmer and eventually passed that business down to […]

Golden LEAF Alumni Spotlight: Samantha Bowen

Name: Samantha Bowen Home County: Stokes County High School Attended: South Stokes High School College Attended/ Years Attended: UNC-Chapel Hill (2014-2018) College Major: History College Minor: Chemistry, Spanish Current county of residence: Stokes County Employer: Stokes County Schools Title: High School Science Teacher Years working with current employer: 3 What does rural mean to you? […]