Wytheville Community College 2025 Annual Report

HONORING LEADERSHIP IN PHILANTHROPY

The Virginia Foundation for Community College Education’s “Chancellor’s Award for Leadership in Philanthropy” honors individuals, families, and organizations who have made significant contributions to Virginia’s community colleges. Recipients from across the state are recognized at an annual luncheon that takes place in Richmond. WCC was proud to be able to honor these philanthropists at the 2021-2025 ceremonies. (Please note that due to the pandemic, there was not an award in 2022.)

2021

2023

Matthew Todd Ridgaway was a long time resident of Rural Retreat, Virginia, and a 1999 graduate of Rural Retreat High School. Upon completion of his high school career, he attended Wytheville Community College.

Mrs. Patricia McClane is a dedicated supporter of Wytheville Community College through both the WCC Scholarship

Foundation and the WCC Educational Foundation. She has made significant contributions to the “Neighborhood Assistance Program Scholarship Endowment” that provides financial assistance to WCC’s most economically disadvantaged students. Additionally, Mrs. McClane established the “Dr. John McClane Memorial Scholarship Endowment” in honor of her late husband; awards from this endowment provide financial assistance to students enrolled in health-related programs at WCC. Pictured: Mrs. Patricia McClane

Pictured: Matt Ridgaway & Brandi King

Later he attended Everglades University to obtain a degree in Construction Management. Todd passed away as a result of a tragic accident in 2009. Todd’s family (Matt Ridgaway, father, and Deedra Crouse, mother) established the “Matthew Todd Ridgaway Memorial Scholarship Endowment” to honor his memory and to provide other students with the opportunity to achieve their goals. The family hosted an annual basketball tournament for several years that raised thousands of dollars for the scholarship. The family continues to make very generous annual donations to the endowment, and many extended family members and friends also support the scholarship.

2025 The Twin County Community Foundation created the “Twin County Community Foundation Community College Tuition Assistance Program” in 2019. The program provides last-dollar tuition scholarships to all qualified high school graduates from public and private schools in Carroll County, Grayson County, and the City of Galax who have earned a minimum 3.0 grade point average. Through this “promise” scholarship program, the Twin County Community Foundation is expanding access to higher education for hundreds of students throughout the region by removing financial barriers. Pictured: Mariah Evans, TCCF Executive Director; Dr. Robert Pryor, TCCF Chair; Deanna Bradberry, WCC Director of Institutional Advancement; Dr. & Mrs. Dean Sprinkle, WCC President

Pictured: Honorable and Mrs. Thomas M. Jackson, Jr.

2024

Mrs. Janie Hale Gentry bequeathed over $1.3 million to the Wytheville Community College Educational Foundation. These funds have established the “Penick and Janie Hale Gentry Memorial Scholarship Endowment” that will provide financial assistance to students from Grayson County. Additionally, a portion of the funds are designated for a capital project to renovate existing college space or to build, lease, or purchase new facilities to enhance or expand program offerings. The Honorable Thomas Jackson and Cynthia Jackson represented WCC and the Hale Gentry family at the event.

EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION, INC. ANNUAL REPORT

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