The First Annual Wayne County Weekend
The First Annual Wayne County Weekend at Appalachian State University
The Freshman Class Scholarship
for Wayne Countyin the amount of $20,000 was established in 1993 by an anonymous donor for the African American student who earns the highest score in math and science on the placement test given to third graders in Wayne County, NC, each academic year. The scholarship is to Appalachian State University, and the student must meet all entrance requirements and agree to major in an area of science or math.
Since its inauguration in 1993, fifteen Freshman Class Scholarships have been awarded. Renaldo Davis, 1996-1997 award recipient, is currently a junior at Appalachian majoring in general mathematics with a concentration in actuarial science.
On November 9-10, 2007, the Office of Equity, Diversity and Compliance, in collaboration with the College of Arts and Sciences, the Office of Multicultural Student Development, and the Office of Admissions, coordinated the first annual Wayne County weekend for Lawrence Richardson, Savalius Swain and Sierra Howell, the three scholarship recipients currently attending grades 9-11 in Wayne County Schools. John Futrell, high school senior, was unable to attend. These students scored in the 98th-100th percentile on their end of grade tests among ALL Wayne County students.
Highlights of the weekend agenda included an introduction to the academic and laboratory environments by ASU faculty and chairpersons in math and science, a welcome reception and dinner attended by 24 administrators, faculty, staff, alumni and students, with opening remarks by Provost Stan Aeschleman, the glee club concert, overnight lodging with ASU student hosts, and tickets to the Western Carolina football game.
Associate vice chancellor Linda K. Robinson said, “The weekend was made possible by a truly remarkable group of individuals, each of whom played a key role in carrying out a thoughtfully conceived weekend agenda. I believe that their genuinely expressed interest communicated volumes about what the academic and campus life experiences are all about at Appalachian.” 
Pictured left to right, are Lawrence Richardson, junior at Eastern Wayne High School, Kinyata Adams, assistant director for multicultural engagement at Appalachian, Sierra Howell, freshman at Wayne School of Engineering and Savalius Swain, sophomore at Goldsboro High School.
