VaHigherEd.com

“Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” is one of the greatest movies of my childhood.  I remember sharing Charlie’s disappointment when he thought the final golden ticket had been discovered.  And with him, I was enchanted by the possibilities that sprang from the visit to the secretive chocolate factory and the antics of the Willy Wonka portrayed by Gene Wilder.

There is something inspiring about the possibilities behind a bigger-than-life opportunity.  I know I’m not alone in that.  We see it play out every time a jackpot gets big and people are willing to chance $1, and we see it in the dreams expressed by those whose numbers were the lucky ones.

And we saw it again just recently as the first recipients of the Wythe-Bland Foundation Scholarship reported for class at Wytheville Community College.  You can read more about it at this story from the SWVAToday.com website:  As the article explains, the scholarship is an open opportunity to any high school graduate in the two counties:

The scholarship program requires eligible students to provide proof of residency in Wythe or Bland for at least two years before graduation; to have attended a public or private high school in Wythe or Bland for at least the junior and senior years (provisions are made for home-schooled students and those who obtain their GEDs); and to apply for any other available federal and state financial aid, scholarships and grants. It also requires students to achieve a 2.0 grade point average by the end of the first year and complete 67 percent of all classes to continue receiving the grant for a second year and complete 40 hours of community volunteer service with an approved agency by the end of the first year.

This an incredible opportunity for each of those students.  It means they can earn a certificate or associates’ degree without having to pay tuition.  And with the guaranteed transfer agreements Virginia’s Community Colleges have with 20 public and private four-year colleges and universities, the students can easily be on their way to a bachelor’s degree at the school of their choice.

So…that’s what it feels like to hold a golden ticket.  

There are only one or two other communities in the nation that has attempted something of this size and scale.  It’s a bold initiative that will certainly make Wythe and Bland counties destinations of choice, in a marketplace where knowledge and talent is the sought-after resource, and ones to keep a close eye on in the near future.

Posted by Jeff Kraus