Patrick Henry Community College selected first-time college students to receive the PHCC Foundation legacy scholarships.
This year, the college awarded three legacy scholarships in honor of the donors: The Honorable Gerald L. Baliles Commonwealth Legacy Scholarship established in 2007 in honor of the former governor’s commitment to public service, education, and leadership; The Eleanor Saslaw Commonwealth Legacy established in 2015 in honor of her leadership in education as well as her current service as PHCC’s liaison on the State Board for Virginia’s Community Colleges; and The Thomas P. Dalton Family Commonwealth Legacy Scholarship honors the philanthropic commitment to education of Martinsville native Thomas P. Dalton.
The Patrick County recipients are:
• Honorable Gerald L. Baliles Commonwealth Legacy Scholarship: Stephanie McAlexander is an honor graduate of Patrick County High with a 3.78 grade point average. While at PCHS, McAlexander was a member of the Praise and Worship team and the Health Occupations Students of America Club, serving as treasurer in her senior year. She was in the marching band color guard and served as captain her senior year.
McAlexander completed the Certified Nurse’s Aide (CNA) program and has worked with Team Nurse for over a year. She volunteers regularly with the American Red Cross and at Pioneer Community Hospital. McAlexander chose to enroll at PHCC to stay in her community while continuing her education in a smaller, more affordable setting.
She plans to enter the registered nursing program to obtain her licensure and work at Brenner’s Children’s Hospital in North Carolina as a pediatric nurse.
• Thomas P. Dalton Family Commonwealth Legacy Scholarship: Adam Fain is an honor graduate and class salutatorian of Patrick County High School. He earned an advanced studies diploma with a 4.47 GPA and a 3.9 GPA in dual enrollment classes at PHCC.
Academic honors include the Superintendent’s Scholar Award; Calculus Award; Honors English Award; Honors Biology Award; Honors U.S. History Award; and Advanced Chemistry Award. Fain was a member of the Beta Club and Future Farmers of America, attending national conventions with both organizations. He received the DAR Good Citizenship Award and served as a teacher’s aide at a local elementary school during his senior year.
Fain earned his Eagle Scout award in January 2015 completing the renovation of a fire safety trailer for the Patrick County Fire and Rescue Association.
He chose to attend PHCC because of the affordability, smaller class sizes, and ability to learn and interact with professors. He wants to transfer to Virginia Tech in the fall of 2017 to obtain his bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering and become a mechanical engineer in the automotive industry or a similar field.
Scholarship applications for the 2017/2018 PH Scholars will open on February 1, 2017 and close on March 31, 2017.
