Crosby Scholars Celebrates 30 Years of Success
17th Annual Crosby Scholars Invitational Raises $354,000+
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Crosby Scholars celebrated its 30th graduating class at the 17th Annual Crosby Scholars Invitational Golf Tournament and raised more than $354,439 for Last Dollar Grants and programs.
“Thank you for the strong support you’ve given this program for many years,” said Paul Fulton, who was instrumental in forming the Crosby Scholars Community Partnership in 1992 with proceeds from The Crosby Celebrity Golf Tournament. Fulton said that in 2022, Crosby Scholars awarded $911,0000 in Last Dollar Grants and scholarships and leveraged more than $8 million for students to continue their education after high school. More than half of Crosby Scholars are under-represented, and over 20 percent are first generation college students, he said.
The Crosby Scholars Program is the legacy of Kathryn Crosby’s decision to honor her husband and move The CROSBY National Celebrity Golf Tournament, the longest running charity golf tournament in the nation, to Bermuda Run in the 1980s. Although Kathryn was unable to attend this year, she sent a video message.
“My very special Crosby friends, you ensure that every public school student in Forsyth County is able to attend college regardless of financial means,” Kathryn said. “You’re all winners for supporting our students.”
Her daughter, Mary Crosby, with husband Mark Brodka, represented the Crosby family this year.
“We are deeply, deeply grateful for what you have done as a community to support our children,” Mary said. “Because of this golf tournament, you have changed the lives of over 35,000 students. Each of you is part of this legacy that is making Forsyth County a community of opportunity.”
Forty teams competed in this year’s invitational, with 180 guests at the Sponsor Dinner at Old Town Club, sponsored by First Horizon Bank, and 250 attendees at the Breakfast of Champions at Bermuda Run Country Club, sponsored by Ridge Care Senior Living.
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Sponsor Dinner speaker Don Martin, Chair of the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners, previously served for 19 years as Superintendent of Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools. He highlighted the impact of Crosby Scholars programming, noting that it provides college visits, workshops, parent and family support, financial aid, and a requirement for community service that benefits students and the community.
In 2023:
- 100 percent of Crosby’s 1,054 seniors graduated and enrolled in 134 colleges and universities.
- Crosby Scholars expanded its one-to-one advising program beginning with the Class of 2024 to start in the spring of junior year.
- Crosby Scholars began an outreach program for students in foster care, LIGHHT, with funding from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina.
Martin said that COVID exacerbated Forsyth County’s already-existing income gaps, and less-educated workers lost ground. Forsyth County awarded Crosby Scholars funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) for focused outreach to negate those impacts on vulnerable populations.
“Clearly, education beyond high school is essential for success in this state and beyond,” he said.
Martin served on a committee in 1996 that unanimously selected Mona Lovett to lead Crosby Scholars. As President & CEO, Lovett has led the Program’s growth from serving 1,500 students in two high schools to serving 11,000 students annually in all WS/FCS middle and high schools, including 17 high need, Title 1 schools, as well as partnering charter schools.
“She has assembled an outstanding team and developed one of the most successful college-going programs in the country,” Martin said. “You embody the power of this program.”
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Lovett announced that Gilmour Lake was the 2023 recipient of the Angel Award, which Kathryn Crosby created to recognize individuals for the work they do to help the Crosby Scholars Program.
“We thank him for all his wisdom and care, not just for Crosby Scholars but for all the community,” Lovett said.
- Kathy Norcross Watts, Crosby Scholars
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Crosby Scholars Teaches Courage in Decision Making |
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Jewel Moser credits Crosby Scholars with providing her tools to help make big decisions that have boosted her success.
A graduate of Parkland IB Magnet High School and senior at North Carolina A&T State University, Jewel is pursuing a BS in Fashion Design and Merchandising, following her innovative entrepreneurial spirit and passion for fashion and content creation. Jewel participated in Crosby Scholars from 6th to 12th grade.
“I learned a lot that I continue to take with me,” she said. “The first thing is an emphasis on community and serving my community well.” She volunteered at Goodwill of Northwest NC and Bethesda Center for the Homeless, among others.
“The one that stood out was at dance camp,” Jewel said. That’s where she learned, “When you love what you do, it’s such a beautiful process. What I like to do is where I serve best.” Now, she teaches people to sew through various social media platforms.
“Second, ensuring I am prepared,” she said. “Crosby Scholars is there to help you understand how to stay on the cutting edge and prepare for college.”
“And finally, understanding how to make those big decisions.” Jewel visited colleges, researched opportunities, and her Crosby Scholars advisor talked with her a lot about where she wanted to go to school. Her advisor helped her consider what she wanted in a college as she considered her acceptances.
She enrolled at NC A&T with a plan to study marketing, and she experienced success, winning a case competition and an opportunity for a patent. Even so, as a junior, she realized, “I wasn’t really feeling it. I went back and decided to change my major to fashion merchandising and design.”
Her courage to follow her passion proved powerful: she interned at Tory Burch in New York City, made multiple outfits for a Miss America Pagent and will be a summer fashion design intern at Belk with a line coming out in stores next spring.
“None of that would have been possible without knowing how to make those hard decisions and the support of Crosby Scholars,” Jewel said. “I wouldn’t be here without all the things you helped students like me to do. I thank you all so much for sponsoring this program and helping students like me to achieve our dreams and helping the Winston-Salem community in general.” - Kathy Norcross Watts, Crosby Scholars
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Roy Williams, keynote speaker, hears kindred spirit
Roy Williams admitted he was upstaged by Reagan student on Tuesday morning. And he didn't mind one bit.
Scott Sexton, Winston-Salem Journal
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BERMUDA RUN — Roy Williams, even in retirement, isn’t used to being upstaged.
Wherever he goes, thanks to well-documented success as a college basketball coach, Williams rightfully receives the star treatment.
Head tables, handshakes and a line of fans asking for cell-phone photos typically await during his public appearances.
It was no different Tuesday morning when Williams, the keynote speaker at the annual Crosby Scholars Breakfast of Champions banquet, strode into a ballroom at the Bermuda Run Country Club.
Until 18-year-old Bridget Johnson, a graduating senior at Reagan High bound for UNC Greensboro this fall, took her turn at the podium to read an inspirational poem she’d written about her young life.
“It was off the charts,” Williams said afterward. “That was one of the most impressive things I’ve ever heard.
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Our Class of 2023 has 419 Crosby Scholars seniors who have received the Executive Director’s Award of Distinction for having been in the Program since sixth grade without missing a requirement or deadline.
These students have all received a $50 book scholarship, and thanks to our 17th Annual Crosby Scholars Invitational Sponsors, 32 of these students won another scholarship to continue their education! Scholars on Team Harris Teeter received a $1,000 Scholarship, scholars on Team Duke Energy a $750 Scholarship, and Team Gardner a $500 Scholarship. Meaning, $24,000 was awarded to our Executive Director’s Award of Distinction recipients thanks to our winner's circle! Over $216,000 has been awarded in scholarships to the Class of 2023.
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Thank You to Our Sponsors! |
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We so appreciate your support of our mission to ensure that every public school student in Forsyth County has the opportunity to attend college.
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Thank You to Our Volunteers! |
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Our success would not be possible without our exceptional volunteers on the Golf Sponsorship Committee, Golf Operations Committee, and at the Crosby Scholars Invitational.
Thank you for your dedication to changing the lives of students in Forsyth County!
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Ronnie Albright
Susan Baldwin
Andy Brown
Wil Brown
Kelly Bullock
Michael Campbell
Thomas Clark
Bob Cornish
Don Eaton
Jim Einstein
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Mike Ernst
James Francis
Paul Fulton, Chair
Paul “Bo” Fulton, III
David Gardiner
Karen Hart Huey
Dr. Kevin High
Gay Hill
Alisha Hutchens
Wayne McCombs
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Tony Norman
Charles "Bud" Palmer, III
David Park
Becky Perkinson
PricewaterhouseCoopers
Mike Sloan
Matt Stiene
Mike Waid
John Wright
Grant Queen, Honorary
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As always, thank you to Kathryn and Mary Crosby our Honorary Chairs. |
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Crosby Scholars at the Wyndham Championship |
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Did you know? The Crosby Scholars Program has volunteered at the Wyndham Championship for over a decade and 2023 was another amazing year at the Wyndham Championship!
We loved having our Crosby Scholars, families, alumni and team representing us as Gallery Ambassadors on Hole #11. Thank you, Wyndham Championship for all you do for our community!
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4th Annual Birdies & Brunch Women's Only Event |
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We hope you will invite a friend to join us for Birdies & Brunch, presented by Flow Lexus of Winston-Salem, a women’s only event to raise funds for the Crosby Scholars Program!
Tuesday, September 19th
Maple Chase Golf and Country Club
Silent Auction and Mimosa Brunch with special guest Rachel Kuehn of of the 2023 Women’s Golf National Champion Wake Forest Women's Golf team AND choice of a Golf Clinic or Nutrition Clinic.
The golf clinic will be led by Head Coach Kim Lewellen, Coach Dianne Dailey, Mary Thomas and Paul Allen. The nutrition clinic will be led by Alice Smith, Registered Dietitian and Certified Health Coach, of Alice Approved.
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