On May 30, 2023 the Kiwanis Club of Black Mountain-Swannanoa was pleased to provide $35,000 in scholarship support to students in Owen District Schools.
Seven recipients are graduating from Owen High School:
Rachel Bellew, attending UNC Charlotte
Killian Eubank, attending Western Carolina University
Liam Gildner, attending UNC Wilmington
Stephen Henson, attending NC State
Nino Luther, attending Montreat College
Mia Mcmurry, attending Meredith College
Nathan Schlecht, attending Appalachian State University
Two scholarship recipients are graduating from the Community High School:
Malachi Buckner, attending AB Tech College
Heather Dixon, attending AB Tech College
One unique aspect of the scholarship support provided by the Kiwanis Club of Black Mountain-Swannanoa is offering previous recipients the opportunity to apply for scholarships to continue their studies. Sixteen students received continuing scholarship support:
Rebekah Fals, who attends Western Carolina University
Charlie Hurt, who attends Appalachian State University
William Hurt, who attends Appalachian State University
Chloe Little, who attends Campbellsville University
Bailey Mundy, who attends Western Carolina University
Cooper Myers, who attends Western Carolina University
Brandon Nightingale, who attends Western Carolina University
Luke Nightingale, who attends Warren Wilson College
Autumn Robinson, who attends Western Carolina University
Magdalene Stephenson, who attends Winthrop University
Emily Stone, who attends the University of Tennessee
Sidney Stone, who attends Haywood Community College
Jenna Travis, who attends AB Tech College
Nathan Travis, who attends AB Tech College
Jose Valdez, who attends Johnson & Wales University
Kaia Zakariasen, who attends Montreat College
Over the past eight years (2016-2023), the Kiwanis Club has awarded over $240,000 in academic scholarships to Owen District students. Beyond scholarships awarded at the end of the academic year, the Kiwanis Club of Black Mountain-Swannanoa offers three "World Citizenship" Scholarships each year. Seniors at Owen High School and the Community High School are invited to write a one-page essay on the meaning of World Citizenship. Guidance counselors at the schools receive the information in August and the scholarships are awarded in November of the academic year. A committee of Kiwanis members judges the essays in a blind selection. Scholarship awards are $1,600, $1,100, and $1,100.
The Kiwanis Club doesn’t forget about teachers! In March of 2023, the Club was pleased to award $21,782.62 to teachers who submitted grants from five of the six schools in the Owen District:
Black Mountain Primary received $978.54 to fund the Wit and Wisdom Library Collection;
Two grants totaling $5777.42 were funded at Black Mountain Elementary School for audio books and AXL software;
W.D. Williams Elementary had three projects funded for a total of $2882.42. The projects focused on boogie boards and drumming;
Funding that totaled $7344.24 was provided to fund eight grant applications from Owen Middle School. Projects funded included string instrument repair, new bows and flexible seating; and,
Four grant applications from Community High School were funded for $5100. These projects included art supplies, snacks and weight room equipment.
It’s an honor and a pleasure for the Kiwanis Club of Black Mountain-Swannanoa to provide this high level of ongoing financial support to students and teachers in the Owen District. The Kiwanis Vision is to be “a positive influence in communities worldwide — so that one day, all children will wake up in communities that believe in them, nurture them and provide the support they need to thrive.” The Club’s primary means of raising funds is through an all-volunteer Thrift Shop, located at 503 W. State Street in Black Mountain. The entire community supports the Thrift Shop by volunteering, donating gently used merchandise and shopping in the Thrift Shop.