Scholarships provide further support for students in UNG Blue Ridge

A trio of new scholarships will help students fund their education at the UNG Blue Ridge Campus.

The Claude William and Virginia Quintrell Merritt Endowed Scholarship Fund was established in August 2020 by Sandra Webb. The fund honors Webb’s parents by financially assisting students at UNG, particularly on the Blue Ridge Campus, with one scholarship of at least $1,000 each year. Virginia Quintrell earned an associate degree in 1939 from UNG and returned to receive a bachelor’s degree in 1955. She was an elementary school teacher in Fannin County for 30 years.

The Sandra H. Mercier Education Scholarship established by the Mercier family will offer two $2,000 scholarships for the 2020-21 school year. Sandra Mercier was a classroom teacher, administrator and superintendent in Fannin County.

Captain Joseph Hughart, a lecturer of earth and environmental science, is also providing a $1,000 scholarship to be awarded each year for a student studying geospatial studies.

“These scholarships mean so much to students and their families in this community,” said Sandy Ott, director of UNG’s Blue Ridge Campus. “We greatly appreciate the investment these donors are making in our students.”

Jeff Tarnowski, vice president for University Advancement, also expressed appreciation for the donors funding these scholarships.

“We are so grateful for the generosity that we have seen from the region that our campus in Blue Ridge serves,” Tarnowski said. “These philanthropic leaders will make a real difference for UNG students both today and tomorrow.”

Anyone wishing to contribute to an existing scholarship fund or create a new scholarship for students studying on the Blue Ridge Campus can contact Kimberly Miller, coordinator of community engagement, at kimberly.miller@ung.edu.

Read more about UNG Blue Ridge campus dedication here.