Scholars

The Golden LEAF Scholarship isn’t a “one size fits all” opportunity. Golden LEAF strives to invest in students who are currently active in their rural community and intend to graduate and return to live in a rural, North Carolina area.

The Golden LEAF Scholarship is so much more than tuition and room and board. It provides leadership development opportunities, exposes scholars to career experiences, and promises a lifetime connection to an extraordinary community of Golden LEAF Scholars across the state.

Check out the guide below that will walk you through your journey as a Golden LEAF Scholar. As you embark on this potentially exciting path, remember that your success is not only about achieving your educational goals but also about positively impacting your rural North Carolina community.

Continuum of Scholarship Journey

Acceptance

Accept Award. Respond to offer in their NCSEAA MyPortal Account
Attend Meet the President Call. Scholars are invited to sign up for a small group call with the President of the Golden LEAF Foundation. [Strongly Encouraged]
Sign up for ScholarsConnect. ScholarsConnect platform is an exclusive space to connect current and alumni Golden LEAF Scholars through networking and mentorship while sharing information and driving our scholarship community engagement.
Receive a Golden LEAF Swag Bag: An official scholarship certificate and wearable swag will be mailed to you to show your pride as a Golden LEAF Scholar.

College Engagement

Attend Golden LEAF Scholar Campus Events and other Gatherings. As a network of Golden LEAF scholars has emerged, several colleges and universities have collaborated with Golden LEAF to host scholar events. These engagements are an effort to bring together scholarship recipients, both current and past, to galvanize our efforts to increase economic opportunities in North Carolina’s rural and economically distressed communities. Each summer, Golden LEAF hosts social events for scholars to gather locally and connect.
Apply to the Rural Internship Initiative. The Rural Internship Initiative provides eligible Golden LEAF Scholars with professional work experience related to their career field in a rural North Carolina community.

Alumnihood

Complete Surveys: Post-graduation, Golden LEAF will continue to keep up with the educational and career advancement of scholars. Scholars complete these surveys to help us collect data about their career paths, community involvement, and desires as a Golden LEAF Scholar alum.
Attend Alumni Meet-Ups: These gatherings are an opportunity to meet informally with local alumni for networking opportunities and to continue to foster community.

Scholar Success Stories

"The Golden LEAF Scholarship changed my life for the better. Because of this scholarship, I was able to pursue my dream of receiving a college education and furthering that education to receive a Masters. I have now reached the highest level of education out of my entire family and have paved a way for those who will come after me, and I could not be more grateful that the Golden LEAF Foundation believed and invested in me."

"If you have a passion for rural areas in North Carolina, similar to where you live or were raised, this scholarship is meant for you. It’s the best scholarship you could get and will continue to fuel your passion to give back to rural areas after you graduate."