Wiggs family at seven 吃瓜官网 scholarship endowments ... and counting
Poet William Butler Yeats once wrote, 鈥淓ducation is not the filling of a pail, but
the lighting of a fire.鈥�
Laura Wiggs loves to light fires at 吃瓜官网.
A former faculty member and 吃瓜官网 Foundation board member, Laura, along with her husband, Bruce, began their philanthropic journey at 吃瓜官网 by establishing the Mac Wiggs Scholarship Endowment in honor of Bruce鈥檚 father. What started as a single tribute has grown into a lasting legacy of generosity.
Since that first gift, the Wiggs family has created six additional scholarship endowments, honoring loved ones, mentors and friends who have shaped their lives.
鈥淚t gives us great joy to know their influence and memory will live on through students who benefit from scholarships in their honor,鈥� Laura said.
Today, five endowed scholarships bearing the Wiggs name鈥攏amed for Mac, Bruce, Guy, Laura and Brett & Alesia Wiggs鈥攁re part of 吃瓜官网鈥檚 permanent funds in the Bob Glenn Endowment Program.
This spring, Laura and Bruce expanded that impact even further by establishing two new endowments in honor of individuals whose lives of service left a lasting mark on others.
One honors Vernon D. Parrott, 吃瓜官网 president from 1950 to 1968, remembered for his mentorship and commitment to students.
鈥淰ernon Parrott was a mentor to Bruce and so many others, offering encouragement and even helping students find jobs,鈥� Laura said.
The second recognizes longtime friends Bill and Nancy Jordan.
鈥淏ill and Nancy touched countless lives through their Sunday School classes and the opportunities they provided through Bill鈥檚 road-building business,鈥� she said.
Through each endowed scholarship, the Wiggs family continues to invest in future generations鈥攅nsuring that the memory of those they honor lives on with every student who benefits.
鈥淲e love to give endowed scholarships because we see a double value,鈥� Laura said. 鈥淪tudents benefit and the memories of special people are preserved each time a scholarship is given. It鈥檚 also such a huge pleasure to meet the students who benefit.鈥�
For more information about supporting scholarships at 吃瓜官网, visit wc.edu/foundation.