Philanthropy News
Last April, Curt Amerson ’12 was ready to sign on the dotted line at UNC Chapel Hill, where many of his classmates at Johnston County Middle College were also headed. Then Guilford College, to which he’d also been accepted, called to tell him about a new four-year, full-tuition scholarship for which the academic standout was eligible.
“I came (to Guilford) for an interview,” he remembers, and was offered the scholarship that day. He accepted, and now the Smithfield, N.C., native is enjoying his first year at Guilford. Technically, he’s already a sophomore, having brought more than 30 academic credits from high school.
“When I was in high school I took a lot of accounting courses, and I noticed that some of the credits probably weren’t going to transfer,” he explains. “So I said, I might as well make this worthwhile. I finished taking the courses that probably wouldn’t transfer, but that would complete a certificate requirement.” Amerson was the first graduate of his school to fully complete a certificate.
He describes himself as “passionate about mathematics.” When he was in the eighth grade, his pregnant teacher was out for several weeks, and the school couldn’t find a replacement. Amerson and another student taught their classmates instead. He’s pretty sure that he wants to major in accounting, possibly mathematics as well. He also talks about starting a business club at Guilford, which doesn’t have one at present.
“In admission, we look at two things – what the student can do for Guilford and what Guilford can do for the student,” says Tanya Madenyika, the assistant director of admission who recruited Amerson. “We could look at Curt and tell he was going to teach us a thing or two.”
Frank Werner ’34, who died last July, donated $2.2 million from the estate of he and his wife Ava Roberts Werner ’33 (who died in 2003), to establish Guilford’s first endowed, full-tuition scholarships. The award, which includes a stipend, is renewable for up to four years provided the recipient maintains a 3.5 grade-point average.
