Jordan Hatcher and Alannah Couch receive prestigious scholarships at UNCSA

UNCSA has announced recipients of its two most coveted scholarships for returning students. Jordan “Jo” Hatcher of Concord will receive the Sarah Graham Kenan Scholarship for Excellence, and Alannah Couch of Warrenton will receive the Elizabeth Harriet Weaver Memorial Scholarship.

Hatcher is a rising college senior who studies directing in the School of Filmmaking. Her scholarship will cover tuition, required fees, double room and full meal plan, plus a $3,200 stipend for related expenses. Couch is a rising high school senior in the Visual Arts Program of the School of Design and Production. She will receive $1,951, to cover out-of-pocket expenses for an in-state high school student, which are not funded by the North Carolina High School Artists Grant.

“These scholarships are meaningful to our campus because they reward students who exemplify our core values: artistic achievement, academic performance, citizenship and leadership,” said Interim Provost Karin Peterson. “We offer our congratulations to Jo and Alannah, along with our gratitude for the qualities they bring to our community.”

Jo Hatcher loves this school, and she wants to contribute whatever she can to make it better. She has made her mark here and will surely represent us well when she transitions into the profession at the end of the next school year.

Henry Grillo

Recipients were notified by videoconference calls today after the university’s annual Celebration of Excellence was postponed due to COVID-19 stay-at-home orders. “We look forward to celebrating with the recipients when we are all together on campus again,” Peterson said.

The scholarships are among $1.6 million in institutional merit scholarships that will be awarded for the 2020-21 academic year.

The Sarah Graham Kenan Scholarship is awarded annually to a rising college senior who demonstrates outstanding talent and artistic achievement; qualities of leadership and citizenship; and excellence in academic performance, with a cumulative overall grade point average of 3.0 or better and a cumulative 3.0 or better in academic courses.

“Jo Hatcher loves this school, and she wants to contribute whatever she can to make it better.  She has made her mark here and will surely represent us well when she transitions into the profession at the end of the next school year,” said Henry Grillo, interim dean of the film school, who nominated Hatcher on behalf of the faculty. “She represents everything we cherish in our students: a passion for the arts, a commitment to make a positive change in society, and the drive to improve the quality of life for all people.”

The Elizabeth Harriet Weaver Scholarship is awarded to a rising 12th grader who is considered to be the most promising artist, with demonstrated motivation, dedication and self-discipline in support of their talent; exceptional vitality as an outstanding all-around student and individual; and outstanding academic achievement of 3.2 or better cumulative grade point average.

Alannah Couch embodies not only the core values of the talented and dedicated students at UNCSA, but she also demonstrates leadership, humility and a resilience that is unique to her. said Will Taylor, director of the Visual Arts Program. With her exceptional dedication to concepts, work ethic, creativity and maturity, Alannah has risen to the top of her class.

Will Taylor

“Alannah Crouch embodies not only the core values of the talented and dedicated students at UNCSA, but she also demonstrates leadership, humility and a resilience that is unique to her,” said Will Taylor, director of the Visual Arts Program. “She is a talented and motivated artist with a dedication to her craft and her education that oftentimes eclipses those of her peers. With her exceptional dedication to concepts, work ethic, creativity and maturity, Alannah has risen to the top of her class.”

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