Oxford Law Firm Endows VGCC Scholarship

The Oxford law firm of Royster, Cross and Hensley, LLP recently made a donation to the Vance-Granville Community College Endowment Fund that will endow a new Academic Achievement scholarship. Above, attorney T. S. “Sam” Royster, Jr. (third from left) presents a check to VGCC President Randy Parker on the college’s main campus in Vance County. They were joined by, from left, attorney Dale Hensley, VGCC Endowment Fund specialist Kay Currin and attorney Jim Cross (right).The Royster, Cross and Hensley, LLP scholarship will be awarded for the first time this fall to a full-time VGCC student from Granville County who is working toward a degree. The recipient must have a 3.0 grade point average and must not be receiving other financial assistance. Royster, a member of the Endowment Fund board, has for many years been interested in giving to Vance-Granville as a way of giving back to the community. “VGCC is such an important institution in the new global economy,” added Hensley. Cross noted that higher education is vital, but, for many people, pursuing it is difficult without some financial support.Parker thanked the members of the firm and said that their gift will create the sixth new endowed scholarship this fiscal year. Endowed scholarships are funded by interest earned on the Endowment Fund and Scholarship Program. Scholarships have been established by industries, businesses, individuals, civic groups, churches and the college’s faculty and staff to assist deserving VGCC students in their academic endeavors. The college’s Endowment Fund Corporation invests the funds, and interest from these investments has allowed the college to award more than 5,000 scholarships to deserving students since 1982. The principal donations to the fund are not spent. In Fall 2006, Vance-Granville awarded scholarships to a record 307 full-time students and to 125 students who are enrolled on a part-time basis.