The Shannon Christy Memorial Scholarship Fund gained a $2,500 donation in February 2024 at Western Carolina University.<\/p>\n
The donation came from Western Carolina University\u2019s 2023 Spring Campaigns Class fundraiser to endow the fund.<\/p>\n
The class reached out to WCU alumni, those who knew Shannon Christy and people working at the fund in her honor that supports nonprofits that empower women, the Shannon Christy Memorial Fund.<\/p>\n
According to Dr. Scott Eldredge, department head for the communication department, the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina donated $2,500 to support the scholarship fund\u2019s endowment due to the team\u2019s efforts on February 26, 2024.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe money will go into our [communication] department\u2019s scholarship fund, and when we reach another $10,000 donated, our scholarship will be endowed,\u201d said Eldredge.<\/p>\n
Once it is endowed, students who are \u201cstudying communication and working to protect and support our outdoor environments\u201d can be awarded scholarships, said Eldredge.<\/p>\n
The fund is in honor of WCU journalism alumni Shannon Christy, who died in a 2013 kayaking accident.<\/p>\n
She was passionate about outdoor recreation and believed it was crucial to be a Catamount.<\/p>\n
Those close to her established the fund in her honor to support WCU communication students who are interested in outdoor recreation like Christy.<\/p>\n