CHOCOWINITY — North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority recently selected Marshall Medlock as a recipient of up to a $12,000 Golden LEAF Foundation Scholarship.

Medlock graduated from Southside High School and plans to attend Methodist University.

Medlock is one of 215 students selected to receive a $3,000 scholarship each year for up to four years of study at a participating North Carolina college or university. Recipients from rural, economically distressed North Carolina counties are selected based on career and educational goals, a review of school and community service activities, length of residence in the county and expressed intent to contribute to the state’s rural communities upon graduation from college.

The Golden LEAF Foundation created the Golden LEAF Scholarship program to broaden educational opportunities and provide support to students from rural counties hoping that after graduation recipients will provide leadership in these communities.

“The Golden LEAF Board of Directors has been pleased to assist more than 4,500 students from families in rural communities attend four-year colleges since 2000,” said Dan Gerlach, Golden LEAF president. “Our hope is that through this scholarship, scholars will be able to gain valuable knowledge and skills and come back to their hometowns or another rural area to help our communities prosper.”

Students receiving Golden LEAF Scholarships are also eligible to participate in the Golden LEAF Scholars Leadership Program. The optional program provides leadership training at the Center for Creative Leadership, paid internship opportunities in rural North Carolina communities and stipends up to $8,830 (for four years of participation) in addition to Golden LEAF Scholarship funding.