Special to IFN

Iredell County Crosby Scholars hosted its annual Senior Celebration Tuesday, April 29, honoring 2024-2025 graduates and awarding $20,000 in scholarships.

Around 100 students, their family members and community leaders made up the crowd of around 300 people at the Statesville Civic Center. The event also included a celebration of Iredell Crosby Scholars’ 10th anniversary, along with a bittersweet tribute to retiring Executive Director Suzanne Wegmiller.

A total of 295 Iredell County seniors are graduating as Crosby Scholars as part of the class of 2024 2025. During Tuesday’s ceremony, 28 students were awarded scholarships, funded by Crosby Scholars and community partners like Mitchell Community College, Goodwill Industries of Northwest North Carolina, and the Mooresville Rescue Squad.

Iredell Health System also contributed two scholarships for the first time this year. The first was presented to a student planning a career that will benefit our local community. A second $1,000 scholarship was awarded to a student joining the health care industry and was presented to Mooresville High School’s Karli Rockness.

“I intend to pursue a master’s degree as a registered dietician, and this scholarship has empowered me to achieve my dreams,” she Karli, who will attend Messiah College in the fall. 

The organization was formed in early 2015, and became active in the Iredell County schools during the 2015-2016 school year. A video presentation highlighted the program’s successes.

Over 10 years, thousands of students have participated in academy sessions to improve study skills and prepare for college. Students have visited numerous college campuses across the state. More than 1,700 students have graduated as Crosby Scholars. The students have completed more than 100,000 combined hours of volunteer service.

A touching part of the evening was a tribute Wegmiller, who has led Iredell County Crosby Scholars since its inception, successfully growing the program into a valuable resource for thousands of local students.

A video montage of supporters and past employees paid tribute to Wegmiller’s dedication to the those students.

“Suzanne, you’ve done a great job building the program out of nothing,” former President and CEO of Goodwill Industries of Northwest North Carolina Art Gibbell said. “It’s been all on your shoulders. The job that you’ve done with two school systems has been marvelous.”

Wegmiller was presented with flowers and a special gift. She received a standing ovation from attendees.

Departing Crosby Scholar Near Peer Advisor Mariah Roseboro was also honored ahead of her departure to pursue a PhD this fall.

The evening ended with the announcement that applications are now open for Last Dollar Grants.

These grants help Crosby Scholars who are attending college that face a shortfall between financial aid and the actual cost of college. More information on Last Dollar Grants can be found at www.crosbyscholarsiredell.org.

SCHOLARSHIPS AND AWARD WINNERS

Iredell Crosby Scholars thanked Mitchell Community College; Goodwill of Northwest Industries of North Carolina, Iredell Health System and the Mooresville Rescue Squad for generously supporting local students. Additional support was provided as a memorial gift in honor of Joyce Kohfeldt, a long-time supporter who passed away in 2023.

Board of Director Awards ($250)
● ASEC – Stephanie Elkins
● CCTL – Sarah Jean-Gilles
● Crossroads – Campbell Collins
● Lake Norman – Talia Green
● Langtree Charter – Sydney Helms
● Mooresville High School – David Saraco
● North Iredell High School – Christopher Corona-Plancarte
● Pine Lake Prep – Anna Goldsmith
● South Iredell – Ryder Reynolds
● Statesville High School – Noah Owens
● West Iredell High School – Addison Reese Dillard

Mitchell Community College Scholarship (Up to $1,700 per semester)
● Lauren Combs, Community College Book Scholarship, $500
● Meg Gaither, Crosby Scholars Impact Scholarship, $500
● Lance Bowman, Iredell Health System Impact Scholarship, $1,000
● Avery Lacount, Iredell Health System Healthcare Scholarship, $1,000
● Karli Rockness, Iredell County Opportunity Scholarship, $1,000 
● Joselyn Moreno
● Jaira Pyrant
● Jorgia Williams, Mooresville Rescue Squad Foundation, $1,000
● Brenna Patterson
● Christopher Morini
● Carson Tyler
● Nathan Leighton
● Nachammai Annamalai, Goodwill Willpower Scholarship, $1,500
● Mary Miller, Goodwill Art Gibel Scholarship, $1,000
● Ameena Saleem, Art Gibel Community Builder Scholarship, $1,000
● Marabel Ivey, Joyce Kohfeldt Memorial Scholarship, $1,000
● Jonathan Dorantes