Scholarship Programs
New River Light & Power Company reserves approximately $650,000 each year for the general scholarship fund at Appalachian State University. This contribution goes to support the Chancellor's Scholarship and other scholarships awarded in the name of the university.
In addition, NRLP administers a scholarship program in conjunction with the scholarship programs offered by Appalachian State University. All current graduating high school seniors residing in Watauga County who have been accepted to Appalachian State University are eligible to apply for the New River Light and Power Scholarship.
Through its scholarship program, NRLP has awarded over $1.7 million in scholarship money to App State students from Watauga County.
The New River Light and Power Scholarship is renewable for up to eight consecutive semesters or four years of undergraduate work, excluding summer sessions. All recipients must maintain a required GPA at the end of each academic year in order to retain the scholarship.
More information can be found on the Appalachian State University Scholarships website.
Recipient Stories
New River Light & Power has been proudly providing scholarships to Watauga County students since 1988. Here are a few stories from past NRLP recipients:
Diana Coffey Wilcox – 1988 Scholarship Recipient
Diana has come full circle with the NRLP Scholarship Program. From being chosen as a recipient in 1988, the first year the scholarship was offered, to serving as the NRLP Scholarship Committee chair through 2020.
Diana graduated from App State in December 1991 with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, and minors in Math and Physics. For several years she worked in billing and collections at Hollar and Greene Produce Company in Boone. She began her career at Appalachian State University in Human Resources as an Employment Specialist. In 2003, Diana transferred to NRLP as the Business and Technology Applications Analyst where she worked through 2020.
In 2007, after serving on the New River Light and Power Scholarship for 3 years, Diana stepped in to chair the committee. Scholarship interview day is her favorite work day of the year. "It is so much fun to meet the candidates and award scholarships to help the bright young people in our community."
Diana is married to Mike Wilcox, Public Works Director for Town of Blowing Rock, and they live in Blowing Rock, have two sons, Austin and Levi. She is an avid music lover, singing with two local bands, and attending as many live shows as possible. She also enjoys riding her Harley with her husband.
Angela Mast Hicks - 1993 Scholarship Recipient
Encouraged by her mother Dalene Mast to attend App State and apply for the NRLP Scholarship, Angela was the first in her family to graduate from college. Angela received her undergraduate in 1996 and then her Master's degree in 1998. Her major was Communication Disorders and she worked two years with Lexington City Schools in Lexington, NC. The mountains called her back home in 2000, and she is currently in her 17th year as a Speech-Language Pathologist for the public school system in Watauga County at Bethel Elementary and Cove Creek Elementary.
She is married to Chad Hicks who works at App State in Purchasing, and they have three beautiful children, Bethany, Jack and Shelby.
Stacy C. 'Four' Eggers, IV – 1995 Scholarship Recipient
Stacy graduated App State Class of 1998 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History. He is one of many App graduates in his family, dating back as far as his great-grandmother Nora South Eggers who was in the Class of 1904. Following graduation, Stacy attended the Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law at Campbell University and received his Juris Doctorate in 2001. He currently practices law in his family law practice, Eggers, Eggers, Eggers and Eggers, PLLC. He is a member of the ASU Board of Visitors, served as a member of the Appalachian Summer Festival Board, has been certified as a North Carolina Criminal Justice Instructor and has taught continuing education to the App State Police Department since 2005.
Stacy is married to Kimberly McGuire Eggers who graduated App State Class of 1998, was also a NRLP Scholarship Recipient and practices law at Eggers, Eggers, Eggers and Eggers, PLLC. They have two sons, Stacy Eggers V, Alexander Eggers, and a baby on the way.
Lori Townsend – 1997 Scholarship Recipient
Lori graduated from ASU in 2001 Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration Management, and in 2007 attained her Master of Arts degree from ASU in Higher Education. She began her career at ASU in March 2002 in the Office of Student Financial Aid as a Financial Aid Counselor and is currently in the same office as Interim Director. Lori is married to Brandon Sutherland who is also a 2001 graduate of the College of Business at ASU. They have two sons, Nolan and Bryce.
David Naff – 2004 Scholarship Recipient
David graduated App State Class of 2008 with his Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology – Concentration in Human Services (Magna Cum Laude). He received his Master of Arts degree in Counseling – Focus in School Counseling from Wake Forest University in 2010 and served as school counselor at Mount Tabor High School from 2010 to 2014.
David is currently a PhD student in Educational Psychology at Virginia Commonwealth University.
Katy Cook – 2010 Scholarship Recipient
Katy graduated App State cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Communication: Public Relations and a Non-Profit Management minor in May 2014. For over eight years Katy has volunteered with Wine To Water, a local nonprofit organization that provides clean water and sanitation systems to those in need around the world. She was a member of the App Wine To Water club and held the role of Chapter President for two years. She is now serving as Co-Advisor. She has traveled with Wine To Water on service trips to Peru and Colombia, distributing water filters, building and repairing wells, and participating in education and outreach programs. She also worked for Southern Appalachian Historical Association, a local nonprofit producer of historical, educational and cultural programming, for two and a half years.
Katy currently serves as director of professional srevices for KELL Partners after support App State as the the University Program Associate for the College of Arts and Sciences.
Elizabeth Brewer – 2011 Scholarship Recipient
Elizabeth graduated in May 2015 with her degree in Business and Marketing Education with a minor in Computer Information Systems. She was on the Dean's List every semester and twice on the Chancellor's List. She served as Junior Marshall for the College of Education at graduation and was on the homecoming court last semester.
She is currently completing her student teaching at Hudson Middle School. She will move to Georgia and teach while attending Mercer University to get her MBA.