The Robert and Janice McNair Educational Foundation of Rutherford County is pleased to announce it is extending the benefits of the ROPE (Reaching for One's Potential for Excellence) Award to students at Chase High School of Forest City North Carolina. Gardner-Webb University, already a participant in the scholarship, has also agreed to expand its efforts by matching the dollar amount of the ROPES Award to Chase recipients who choose to attend the University. The McNair Foundation began in 1989 as a way to improve education in Rutherford County and encourage students to attend college. Gardner-Webb has partnered with the McNair Foundation since the mid 1990's and in 2003 started matching the $1,400 per year that ROPE recipients receive over a four-year period. It is estimated that Gardner-Webb has had 10 to 15 ROPE recipients per year.
The ROPE Scholarship is available to a high school senior who meets admission requirements and who intends to enroll in college after graduation. Students who are selected for the award can receive substantial funds to attend the college of their choice. Until now, ROPE Scholars were only selected from East Rutherford High School, located in Bostic, North Carolina. Robert McNair, a Rutherford County native, chose East Rutherford for the scholarship because he graduated from the school when it was known as Cool Springs High School. He went to college at the University of South Carolina in Columbia and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree. McNair became a successful businessman in Houston, Texas and is owner of the NFL franchise, Houston Texans. McNair also serves as the Chairman for the McNair Group, a financial real estate firm and the biotechnology investment firm - Cogen Technologies. He is also the owner of Palmetto Partners, Ltd., a private investment company that manages equity investments. McNair Field, the stadium for the Forest City Owls baseball team (a collegiate summer league team) is also named in his honor after his contribution to its construction.
The Foundation Board of Trustees and staff are very pleased that Gardner-Webb University has agreed to support this effort by extending the ROPE Scholars Program to Chase High School students," noted Monica Lee, executive director of the Robert and Janice McNair Foundation. "The partnership between Gardner-Webb and the Robert and Janice McNair Foundation has been invaluable in providing the maximum benefit to the students who receive the ROPE Award and choose to attend Gardner-Webb University."
President of Gardner-Webb University, Dr. Frank Bonner, expressed how excited he is to expand Gardner-Webb's partnership with the McNair Foundation to Chase High School. Always enthusiastic for GWU to improve its surrounding communities, Bonner is particularly pleased to include more of Rutherford County in their efforts.
The faculty and staff of Chase (High School) worked diligently to support the expansion of the ROPES Scholar program to their school and Principal Greg Lovelace shared these thoughts. "Through the efforts of the McNair Foundation and Gardner-Webb, our goal of high school graduation and a college education for all Chase students is closer to becoming a reality. We are proud of this partnership," said Lovelace. Lovelace received both his undergraduate and graduate degrees from GWU. The expansion of the foundation programs to Chase will be available for qualified and selected recipients who graduate this year.
Gardner-Webb University Press Release
