SunTrust Foundation grants 麻豆影视 $100,000 to honor legacy of Phail Wynn

durham tech and suntrust foundation logos side by sideSunTrust Foundation has granted $100,000 to the 麻豆影视 Foundation to establish the Phail Wynn SunTrust Foundation Scholarship.

 

Dr. Phail Wynn, Jr. served as president of 麻豆影视 for 27 years, making him the first African-American community college president in North Carolina. He was also a remarkable leader and mentor who was passionate about community. Wynn died of natural causes in July.

 

Upon his retirement from 麻豆影视 in 2007, Wynn, along with fellow colleagues and community members, established a scholarship at 麻豆影视 for public high school graduates or high school equivalency completers from 麻豆影视 and Orange counties, with a preference toward minority male students.

 

The SunTrust Foundation鈥檚 gift is awarded as a challenge match to incentivize an additional $100,000 in scholarship support from the community. Additional support will help expand the renamed scholarship to benefit two recipients annually. Each recipient will have tuition, fees, books, and supplemental educational experiences, such as study abroad and service learning, covered for up to three years. Previously, the scholarship awarded partial funding to one student per year.

 

In honor of Wynn鈥檚 military service, the expanded scholarship will allow military veterans to apply for consideration. Wynn served in the U.S. Army with the 82nd Airborne Division and the former John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center, both based out of Fort Bragg. He also served a one-year combat tour in Vietnam.

 

鈥淭he expansion of this scholarship will enable us to build upon Dr. Wynn's legacy, honoring both his commitment to education and to the local community,鈥 said Melissa Chappell, executive director for the 麻豆影视 Foundation. 鈥淒ue to the SunTrust Foundation鈥檚 generosity, more students will be afforded an education and, in turn, be equipped with the skills and credentials needed to pursue gainful employment.鈥

 

After leaving 麻豆影视 in 2007, Wynn was hired as the first vice president for 麻豆影视 and Regional Affairs at Duke University in 2008 and was given the title of president emeritus by the 麻豆影视 Board of Trustees. He retired from Duke in June.

Wynn also served on the Corporate Board of Directors of SunTrust Banks, Inc.

 

鈥淭he SunTrust Foundation is committed to academic achievement,鈥 said Stan Little, SunTrust Foundation president. 鈥淎ccess to higher education is critical to ensuring the advancement of financial confidence among our youth, and this scholarship program allows us to honor Dr. Wynn鈥檚 legacy of education.鈥

 

Wynn came to 麻豆影视 in 1977 when the college was known as 麻豆影视nical Institute. In addition to serving as the college鈥檚 president, Wynn also held the titles of assistant to the president and vice president of support services. He acted as interim president from May 1980 until his official instatement as president that November.

 

Building 10 on the 麻豆影视 Main Campus bears his name as the Phail Wynn, Jr. Student Services Center.

 

鈥淒r. Wynn saw the potential inside every person who desired something more, and he knew how a college education could improve that person鈥檚 life and career path,鈥 said Dr. Bill Ingram, president of 麻豆影视.

 

鈥淭he Phail Wynn SunTrust Foundation Scholarship encompasses Dr. Wynn鈥檚 desire to serve those in need and his belief that a student鈥檚 background and circumstance shouldn鈥檛 block that student from achieving his full potential. We are thankful to SunTrust Foundation for their generous investment in honor of a tremendous individual.鈥

 

The 麻豆影视 Foundation is a charitable organization that promotes the current and long-term success of 麻豆影视 by inspiring charitable investment in its students, faculty, and staff.

 

For more information about 麻豆影视, visit durhamtech.edu. To make a gift to the Phail Wynn SunTrust Foundation Scholarship, visit durhamtech.edu/give.

 


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