WS Chronicle

Mayor Allen Joines and Mayor Pro Temp Vivian Burke

By Tevin Stinson

The Chronicle

Mayor Allen Joines and Mayor Pro Tempore Vivian H. Burke announced next month they will kick off a joint scholarship program that will sponsor inner city high school students to attend Forsyth Technical Community College.

Following a press conference Thursday, Dec. 3 Burke, who is the mastermind of the program said, “The program is designed to assist those who have the will, but not the means to attend college.

“The effort is essentially a employment initiative,” she continued. “A lot of taxpayers aren’t getting the jobs that are here because they don’t have the qualifications, this program will allow them to get the qualifications to find a good-paying job.”

The Burke/Joines Scholarship, will pay full tuition for up to six semesters for a resident of public housing or, who have a household income at, or below the poverty level.

Applicants must also be a senior at a Winston-Salem Forsyth County high school or be able to complete a GED course before starting at Forsyth Tech.

The first scholarship will be funded by Joines and Burke. They hope to raise money from local businesses to support four additional scholarships for the term starting in the fall of 2016.

Scholarship recipients will have to maintain a minimum grade point average of 2.0 in an approved course of study, participate in internships while at Forsyth Tech and agree to meet with a mentor who will monitor and guide the student.

Recipients must also agree to make a concentrated effort to obtain employment after they complete their studies.

Although the application process has not yet been finalized a number of students and parents seemed interested in the program when told about it.

“I would defiantly be interested in that program,” said Tyquan Williams a student at Carver High School. “I have a while before I’m a senior but it’s good to know that I do have that option.”

A number of parents mentioned a scholarship would be a huge weight lifted off their shoulders. Mayor Allen Joines said education is a key factor to ending the cycle of poverty, and a number of other social issues.

“This effort plays into a number of social issues that we are working on right now such as homelessness, poverty and crime,” he continued. “I’m very excited about this program.”

“These scholarships will have a multiplying effect when you realize they can set the recipients apart and their future children on a new path.”

Executive vice president and chief operating officer for Forsyth Tech Rachel Desmarais said, she was thrilled to continue the school’s relationship with Mayor Pro Tempore Burke.

“She is a longtime supporter of students and education. We are excited to begin this venture,” she said. As we all know, education is the key, enabling people to come to Forsyth Tech to get those relevant job skills is very important.

For more information on the Burke/Joines Scholarship Program contact Pam Peoples-Joyner by email at pjoyner@wspd.org.