The Polk County Democratic Women’s Club voted again this year to support the New Century Scholars (NCS) program.
The NCS program is designed to improve academic readiness, bolster student persistence toward high school graduation and increase the college-going rate. The Democratic Women’s Club’s support of the New Century Scholars program is part of the club’s larger mission to support education.
Teachers and staff at the Polk County Middle School select three seventh grade students each year to become New Century Scholars. A student’s potential for success in college is important and they must have a positive attitude and desire for education. Grade point average and financial need are not primary considerations, but most of the students are those who may not get to college without NCS assistance due to personal or financial reasons. Scholars are mentored throughout middle and high school, must maintain good behavior, attendance and grades, remain drug and alcohol free, perform a set number of hours per year of community service and exhibit good citizenship.
For the third year, the board of the Polk County Campus ICC Foundation Inc. is holding a golf tournament at The Cliffs at Glassy to raise funds for its New Century Scholars (NCS) program. The Democratic Women’s Club donation is part of this project.  The past two years’ events have been very successful, both in raising money and in producing a fun golfing event at an exclusive club, The Cliffs at Glassy. The past two New Century Scholars golf tournaments have generated about $47,000.  All proceeds from the tournaments are restricted to use for New Century Scholars.
A full page advertisement thanking all contributors will appear in the Tryon Daily Bulletin as has been done in the past. The programs for golfers, meanwhile, will highlight the underwriters and list all supporters.
During the past two years the Foundation Board has had to play “catch-up” to totally fund the program since it started in 2005. The Foundation Board is happy to report that the New Century Scholars Endowment Fund was opened at the Polk County Community Foundation after the first tournament. This fund allows the Board to meet its current obligations to its current and future Scholar participants in the event that all in the program attend ICC. The maximum number of students in the Polk NCS program is 24. The Foundation Board hopes in the near future to increase the number of students selected each year and pay for books for students attending I.C.C. in addition to their tuitions.
The approximate “high end” cost of attending ICC for two years per student is $4,500.
The Polk County Campus ICC Foundation also awards scholarships to several adult students in need of financial assistance. Many of these students are studying for careers in medically-related fields. The board also provides the Polk campus with funds for capital improvements and programs.