Four Johnston County Residents, Future Teachers Selected To Be NC State Transformational Scholars

RALEIGH— Four Johnston County residents who recently graduated from high school are part of the second cohort of the Transformational Scholarships Program, the NC State College of Education’s premier scholarship program: 

• Emily Biggs, Cleveland High School, Elementary Education Major
• Carter Clever, Smithfield Selma High School, Technology, Engineering, and Design Education
• Alyssa Darden, Corinth Holders High School, Elementary Education Major 
• Gillian Grimmick, Smithfield-Selma High School, Science Education Major

The Transformational Scholarships Program provides scholarships totaling $40,000 over four years to promising students from Eastern North Carolina who will return to the region to teach after graduating from NC State’s College of Education. The program was made possible due to a generous charitable grant from the Anonymous Trust.

In all, there are 20 first-year students in NC State’s College of Education part of the second cohort of the Transformational Scholarship Program. Those 20 Transformational Scholars represent 10 different eastern North Carolina counties and comprise 13 elementary education majors, two mathematics education majors, two science education majors, two middle grades language arts and social studies education majors and one technology, engineering, and design education major. 

“The second cohort of Transformational Scholars is an impressive group passionate about sparking change and innovation in eastern North Carolina, making a significant and constructive contribution to their community and giving back to a region that has given them so much,” said Trisha Mackey, the director of the Transformational Scholarships Program. “They each bring a unique perspective on what it means to be a transformational educator. I believe that they will add to the energy and synergy of the program and will make a difference in the lives of their future students by being authentic and empathetic educators.”