Special to IFN
More than 400 students, parents, and education advocates gathered at the Statesville Event Center on April 28 for the 2026 Iredell Crosby Scholars Senior Celebration. It was the largest crowd ever for the annual event, which honored 270 Crosby Scholars in the Class of 2026 with the presentation of graduation cords, certificates, scholarships and more.
“For some of these students, Crosby Scholars has been part of their journey for as many as seven years,” said Iredell Crosby Scholars Executive Director Jennifer Christian. “It’s incredibly rewarding to see them so well prepared and confident as they take their next steps after high school. We’re also deeply grateful for a community that continues to show up for these students—offering meaningful opportunities and scholarships to make a brighter future possible.”
Thirty-one students were awarded $31,000 in scholarships to help with the next step in their educational journey. Crosby Scholars presented Board of Director scholarships to students from each Iredell County public high school. Community supporters funded additional scholarships available only to Crosby Scholars.
Thirty-seven students received Executive Director Awards for completing all Crosby Scholars requirements from sixth through 12th grade without interruption. Eighteen Crosby Scholars senior officers were also recognized for taking on a leadership role and promoting student success.
The evening included an inspiring message from keynote speaker Richard Totten, an organizational development professional with Goodwill Industries of Northwest NC. He encouraged students to focus on four keys to success after high school:
• Don’t compare your own success against someone else’s. “You can’t weigh your own success on someone else’s scale,” he said.
• Failure isn’t failure. “Progress and growth can sometimes be messy and painful. … Give yourself permission to fail and make mistakes, but give yourself the resolve to get back up and get going,” Totten explained.
• Find your tribe. “Find your community. Do not go through life alone. … Surround yourself with people that don’t just make you feel better, but be better,” he said.
• Hold time in its place. “Time is the most precious resource on earth, because you can only spend it once. … Hold the past in your heart, hold the present in your pocket, and reach for the future,” he advised.
The evening concluded with the opening of Last Dollar Grant applications. These need-based grants are available for Crosby Scholars’ graduates to cover the gap between financial aid and the actual cost of higher education. Funds are still being sought for these grants. Donations can easily be made online through Crosby Scholars’ website.
Crosby Scholars currently serves more than 1900 students in Iredell County, with program offerings that include career exploration, resume building, ACT/SAT test prep, college tours, application reviews, financial aid/FAFSA info, and scholarships. Crosby Scholars is open to all Iredell County students in grades 6 through 12. The program is completely free.
Scholarship Recipients
Goodwill Willpower Award
• Promise Lovelace
Goodwill Art Gibel Award
• Miranda McKenzy
Aggie Gavin Scholarship
• Alayshia Brown & Quincy Sherrill
Suzanne Wegmiller Crosby Impact Scholarship
• Allison Limon & Darbee Lewis
Joyce Kohfeldt Memorial Scholarship
• Ryan Laska
Thorson Community College Book Scholarship
• Jennifer Lopez
Mooresville Rescue Squad Scholarship
• Thea DeGroot
• Ella Eason
• Carolyn Russell
• Juliana Torres-Figueroa
• Baylie Zimmer
Iredell Health Future of Healthcare Scholarship
• Skylar Cook
Iredell Health Scholarship Fund
• Malia Hunter
Richard & Marilyn Graham Scholarship
• Estefania Gomez
• Kimberly Nunez
Mitchell Community College/ Crosby Scholars Scholarship
• Brentley Metzgar
Crosby Scholar Board of Directors Awards
• Izabella Ciceron – ASEC
• Brinna Hayes- CCTL
• Gregory Cain – Crossroads
• Owen Pfefferkorn- Lake Norman High School
• William Hay – Langtree Charter Academy
• Emmanuel Conrad- Mooresville High School
• Abraham Flores – North Iredell High School
• Keira Moore – Pine Lake Preparatory
• Lucas Porter – South Iredell High School
• Abi Lobo – Statesville High School
• Javier Thomas & Xavier Thomas – West Iredell High School
Wingate Scholarship – Provided by Wingate for Crosby Scholars who enroll at Wingate
• Monique Wilson