Mary R. Hemphill Scholarship Grant

Mary R. Hemphill Scholarship Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina
Amount: Up to US $5,000
Last Updated: August 05, 2025

Summary

The Mary R. Hemphill Scholarship, established by the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina, supports Buncombe, Madison, and McDowell High School graduates pursuing a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree. This renewable scholarship aims to assist students with a passion for animals, particularly those interested in large animal care. With a rich history of charitable contributions, the Foundation has awarded over $456 million in scholarships, demonstrating a commitment to enhancing educational opportunities in the region.

Overview

About the Foundation The Community Foundation is a nonprofit organization established in 1978 to build a permanent pool of charitable capital for the 18 counties of Western North Carolina including the Qualla Boundary. We work with individuals, families and corporations to create and manage charitable funds and make grants to nonprofits or public agencies in our region. In partnership with fundholders, the Foundation has awarded more than $456 million in scholarships to students and grants to nonprofit organizations and public institutions across our 18-county region and beyond. We manage $481 million (June 2025) in assets with a long-term investment strategy that permanently protects and grows these funds. Mary R. Hemphill Scholarship Mary Rutledge Hemphill came from a farming background and was a long-time resident of Buncombe County, North Carolina. She and her husband Arthur Joe Hemphill, Jr. lived in Black Mountain, North Carolina for most of their lives. Not having children of their own, the Hemphills ‘adopted' numerous children who became very special to them over the years. In keeping with this love of children, and her deep affinity toward animals, Mrs. Hemphill established the Mary R. Hemphill Scholarship Fund in order to assist young people in our area who wish to study veterinary medicine.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Scholarships, renewable for two more years, are available to graduates of Charles D. Owen High School (Buncombe County), Madison High School (Madison County), or McDowell High School (McDowell County) who are currently attending a college or university in North Carolina or Tennessee. Applicants must also be engaged in a course of study leading to the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree, with a strong preference for students with demonstrated interest in working with large animals.