The Walter Headrick Fund
Walter Wayne Headrick (Sep. 3, 1907 – Oct. 15, 1984) believed that education fosters dignity, transforms futures, and turns hopelessness into dreams that happen. Mr. Headrick was an educator, counselor, mentor, coach, friend, beloved father, and champion of equal opportunities for all, especially for women. Throughout much of his life, he encouraged and helped girls and young mothers with children to pursue higher education. This fund honors that legacy.
St. Andrews on-the-Hill Episcopal Church has recently established the Walter Headrick Memorial Fund, created from an endowment of $10,000, which will provide ten grants in the amount of $1000 each to help offset tuition, fees, childcare, or any associated expenses incurred by mothers who want to pursue an educational degree. A grant may be awarded to a candidate enrolled in either an Associate or Bachelor degree program, or in vocational studies for professional career development. The educational institutions must be located in Western North Carolina. Applicants do not have to be members of St. Andrews on-the-Hill nor be an Episcopalian.
Eligibility Requirements
1. Applicant must be a woman who has at least one child ranging in age from infancy to a high school senior.
2. Applicant must be enrolled in an institution of higher learning (e.g. 2-year technical/community college, 4-year college or university, or other work-force development/education program leading to certification in a specialized field, such as nursing aide, EMT, sonographer, or cosmetologist). Applicants must provide official proof of enrollment.
3. Applicant must have an annual 2023 adjusted net family income of $65,000.00 or less and/or be Pell Grant eligible.
4. Applicants must provide one referral and respective contact information for an individual not related to the individual applicant.
5. Applicants do not have to be a member of St. Andrews-on-the-Hill, Canton, or any other Episcopal Church.
6. Applicants do not have to reside in Haywood County, although preference will be given to Haywood County residents, as well as to those residing in Buncombe, Jackson, Madison, and Transylvania Counties.
7. Applicants must attend or plan to attend an institution of higher learning sited in Western North Carolina (including the counties of Avery, Buncombe, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, McDowell, Macon, Madison, Mitchell, Polk, Swain, and Watauga).
Race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, and/or marital status are NOT considerations for this grant.
Application Process
Applicants must complete an application online through a link at standrewscanton.org. Applications will be available beginning April 5, 2024, and must be submitted no later than May 15, 2024
Review Process
Once all grant applications have been received, the Walter Headrick Memorial Fund Committee, along with one other parishioner, will meet to review each application using a rubric created by the memorial fund committee members. The review committee will rank candidates and award grants based upon the qualifications of each applicant.
Distribution of Funds
Recipients of a grant will be notified directly by a member of the Walter Headrick Memorial Fund Committee by May 30, 2024. Awards will be distributed in the form of a physical check that may be mailed, hand-delivered, or picked up by the recipient at St. Andrews on-the-Hill, Canton.
In the event not all grants are awarded, the remaining funds will be held until a new application period is initiated in April of 2025.