Council discusses relaunch of Send‑A‑Kid to College scholarship, tables plan for revisions

Mayor Robert Wagman presented proposals to relaunch the Send‑A‑Kid to College scholarship program, saying the program was created before the COVID era and no scholarships have yet been awarded. He said $15,000 currently sits in the fund and proposed a workforce-oriented, skills-focused award structure that would prioritize accredited two-year and certificate programs and would not be limited to GPA-based merit awards.

Wagman said eligible applicants would include high school seniors and past high‑school graduates with at least two years of Kings Mountain residential address; awards would be semester‑to‑semester and could last up to two years. He described a vision-based essay as the selection mechanism and proposed priorities for Cleveland Community College and Gaston College and other North Carolina accredited institutions. Funding options discussed included partnering with a 501(c)(3) (Catawba Foundation, the Harriet Institute, or Kings Mountain Elite), matching opportunities, special events, and a monthly utility-bill donation option. The first scholarships would use roughly three‑quarters of available funds for first‑year awards totaling $11,500, he said.

Mayor Wagman recommended KM Elite as the partner and recognized KM Elite founders Maurice and Brandy Tate. Council discussed administrative matters and whether to use a community foundation or create a separate 501(c)(3) to administer funds. After limited discussion and minor adjustments, Councilmember Heather Lemmond moved to table the matter for one or two meetings and Councilmember Annie Thombs seconded; the motion passed unanimously.