Two Madison graduates earn Chamber scholarships

Allison will be attending North Carolina State University and is interested in golf courses and turfgrass. He credits his interests to his father.

"As I grew up, I watched my dad not only take care of our yard but also maintain exceptional athletic fields at my school," Allison said. "My dad also taught me how to play golf at a young age."

Allison aspires to be a golf course superintendent and hopes to use his education and knowledge to grow the game of golf in Madison County.

Bender will also be attending North Carolina State University to pursue an undergraduate degree in electrical engineering. He also credits his dad’s influence.

"His unrelenting enthusiasm towards things that no one else would care about definitely nurtured me into the person I am today, and it is because of his fluidity and genuine attitude that I feel so confident in expressing myself every day," Bender said.

Both students expressed gratitude for the scholarship. Established in 2001 and celebrating its 25th anniversary, the Madison County Chamber of Commerce Scholarship is managed by the North Carolina Community Foundation and is awarded through the Madison County Chamber of Commerce.

"This scholarship represents the mission of the Madison County Chamber of Commerce," said Sherri Davis, the scholarship administrator. "We maintain and enhance the quality of life and the economic vitality of our county — and part of the way we do this is supporting our students and encouraging their education."

To be considered for the annual scholarship, students must have been a resident of Madison County for at least one year, be enrolled full time (12 or more credit hours) at an institution of higher learning and have a GPA of 2.5 or above. To learn more about the scholarship, visit nccommunityfoundation.org/Scholarships.

The North Carolina Community Foundation partners with donors and a network of affiliates to sustain over 1,300 endowments totaling more than $600 million in assets. More than $360 million has been awarded as grants to charitable organizations and scholarships to students.