Golden LEAF Foundation Hosts Scholarship Luncheon at the University of Mount Olive

Rhonda Jessup, Director of Public Relations

The University of Mount Olive (UMO) recently welcomed representatives from the Golden LEAF Foundation for a luncheon celebrating scholarship recipients and reaffirming the shared commitment to developing future leaders in rural North Carolina.

The event brought together UMO students, faculty, as well as Golden LEAF Foundation representatives and members of the Foundation’s leadership team.

Golden LEAF scholarship recipients were pictured with Golden LEAF Foundation and University of Mount Olive representatives (L-R) Back Row:  Mark Anderson, Caroline Jones, Justin Cowan, Golden LEAF Foundation Board member Jeffrey Lee, UMO President Dr. H. Edward Croom, Golden LEAF Foundation President and CEO Scott Hamilton, Laura Smith, and Gregory Rouse.  Front Row:  Taylor Hall, Martha-Anne Bissette, Kaleb Buckingham, Golden LEAF Foundation Board member Bobbie Richardson, Golden LEAF Foundation Program Manager Arlena Dongilli, and Golden LEAF Scholar Alumna Katelyn Gregory.

President and CEO of the Golden LEAF Foundation Scott Hamilton commended UMO’s ongoing partnership with Golden LEAF and emphasized the Foundation’s evolving mission to not only provide access to higher education but also to prepare students to lead the transformation of North Carolina’s rural economy.

“Our work is powered by innovation, technology, and a renewed focus on local excellence,” Hamilton said. “We need you to fill the roles in advanced manufacturing, precision agriculture, healthcare technology, and rural entrepreneurship. You are the new architects of opportunity.”

He encouraged students to stay connected with the Foundation after graduation through newsletters, social media, and alumni networks. “Golden LEAF is your lifelong professional resource,” Hamilton noted. “Your journey is essential to North Carolina’s future, because if rural North Carolina doesn’t succeed, North Carolina doesn’t succeed.”

Scholarship Program Manager Arlena Dongilli highlighted several ways the Foundation continues to support scholars beyond financial aid, including the Golden LEAF Rural Internship Initiative, which offers paid, career-related internships in rural counties across the state. She also spotlighted Golden LEAF Scholars Connect, an online network linking more than 700 current scholars and 2,000 alumni to professional development opportunities.

“We truly believe in this program and in helping you get to that next level,” Dongilli said. “It’s about preparing you for the workforce while keeping you connected to the communities that raised you.”

Golden LEAF scholar Taylor Hall, a UMO senior veterinary bioscience with an animal science concentration and a minor in chemistry, spoke on behalf of her fellow recipients. Hall shared how her summer internship, made possible through the Golden LEAF program, confirmed her professional calling and opened the door to employment opportunities after graduation.

“Not only have you assisted us financially, but you’ve also opened the door for us to give back to our rural communities,” Hall said. “Each of us here today is eager to continue our education so that we may serve and strengthen the places we call home.”

The Golden LEAF Scholarship Program awards 215 renewable scholarships annually to students from rural and economically distressed counties who demonstrate academic excellence and a commitment to return to their communities to pursue meaningful careers.

UMO President Dr. H. Edward Croom expressed appreciation for the Foundation’s longstanding partnership and the positive impact it continues to have on UMO students. “To Scott and your entire team, thank you for what you do,” Croom said. “The Golden LEAF Foundation is making a difference in lives across our state, and we’re honored to be a part of that story.”