Aggie Gentz Foundation Grows with Newly-Established Endowment for N.C. A&T Students
Since 2015, the Aggie Gentz Foundation has given out 98 textbook scholarships and has raised over $100,000 to benefit students at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. The foundation was started by North Carolina A&T alumni and was designed with an emphasis on recruiting alumni to invest back into the university and its students. Now in its third year, the foundation has established a fully-funded endowment of $50,000 to impact the lives of more students.
Unlike the textbook scholarships that are offered bi-annually and range from $600-700, the Aggie Gentz Foundation Endowment is unrestricted and not limited to tuition, books, housing, and other financial obligations. The scholarship will be given out annually and is primarily open to sophomores and juniors with any major, and a minimum grade point average of 2.5/4.0.
“We feel that merit-based scholarships are great, but there are also students that have a 2.5 or 2.7 GPA that have the potential to be great leaders of organizations and future business executives,” said Torian R. Priestly ‘95, president of the Aggie Gentz Foundation. “A student’s GPA is not always the driving factor on how successful they will be in life and that’s why it’s important to impact the lives of all students at N.C. A&T.”
The Aggie Gentz Foundation plans to continue their fundamental grassroots approach by sponsoring organizations in need on campus. The foundation recently made a donation of $3,000 to the women’s volleyball team to support operational cost.
“We want to support Aggie sports teams that may not receive a lot of funding and we are always looking for ways to make a difference,” said Priestly.
In addition, the foundation is working with corporations to support their efforts and to streamline opportunities for students to receive internship and employment opportunities. The organization is also expanding its alumni events during homecoming, Memorial Day Weekend and during the Celebration Bowl, (Aggie football is selected to play.)
“Aggie alumni love the concept of partying with a purpose and supporting students at A&T,” said Priestly. “It makes it easier for alumni to give back. Without our alumni, family, and corporate support we could not reach our annual strategic goals.”
“During homecoming, we give out approximately $30,000 in annual textbook scholarships during our annual Sunday Aggie Gentz Awards Breakfast to highlight each student’s success,” said Priestly. “The breakfast is my favorite event because we are able to see the fruits of our labor and we get to hear directly from the recipients on what it means to receive the finances to pay for their books.”
“Being a recipient lets me know that there are people out here that believe in me and the great work I am about to embark upon,” said Alex Fletcher, a 2017-18 book scholarship recipient. “Thank you, Aggie Gentz for providing me with the opportunity to fulfill my goal of becoming a mechanical engineer.”
The members of Aggie Gentz are Torian R. Priestly ’95, John Fitts ‘91, Pernell Briggs ‘90, William Moore ‘89, Darrell McNeil ’17, Walter Johnson ‘91, Tony Washington ’89, David Jarmon ’91, Brian Cheek ’94, Rod Wilson ‘90, Mandell Jackson ‘90, David Hamlette ‘91, Lincoln Tyson ’98, and Chuck Barnes ’92.
To learn more about Aggie Gentz and how to support their philanthropic efforts, please visit www.aggiegentz.com or www.aggiegentzfoundation.org to donate.
