John E. Willoughby Scholarship Program

The John E. Willoughby Scholarship provides up to $1,000 per year for a college education. Scholarships are available to a blind student or the sighted child of a blind or visually impaired parent that attends a charter, private or public school in Gaston County. The applicant must have been a resident of Gaston County for a period of one year or more. Scholarships will be awarded based on the economic need of the family, the scholastic record and character of the applicant. The scholarship is for attendance at a college or university in North Carolina.

Applications and all required information must be received by the Gastonia Evening Lions Club by March 31. No funds will be made available for studies beyond a Bachelors Degree. Once awarded, the scholarship may be renewed year by year for a maximum of four times, contingent upon the recipient making passing grades with an overall average of "C" on academic courses. In the event the recipient drops out of school, any unused balance will be returned to the fund.

John E. Willoughby was a long-time member of the Gastonia Evening Lions Club and was serving as chairperson of the scholarship program at the time of his death. The program is administered by the Community Foundation of Gaston County, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Contributions to the fund are tax-deductible, in accordance with Internal Revenue Code.