Vector Wealth Strategies’ Annual Scholarship Banquet Honors Local Winners

Winners (L to R): Makenzie Friend, Shakiya Friend, Olwabamise “Goodness” Olabode, Isaiah Caldwell, Jakeisha Lewis, Ketty-Daphney Ngwese, Zachary Barbre, DaQuarrius Poole and Brianna Goodloe

When we started this scholarship program I never imagined that it would grow like this. The students are amazing, the donors are amazing, my staff is amazing. This is our fourth year and this year alone we were able to award $92,000!

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (PRWEB)
July 20, 2021

Vector Wealth Strategies’ Community Scholars Fund honored 12 scholarship recipients, four winners from 2020 and eight winners from 2021, during its fourth annual Scholarship Banquet held at The Ledges in May.

“We are grateful for the generous support from our partners who raised more than $90,000 during a pandemic,” Kelly Moise, VWS senior partner and Community Scholars Fund coordinator, said. “Since we postponed last year’s event, it was exciting to be able to gather for our annual banquet this year and it was our largest banquet yet.”

Vector clients support the Community Scholars Fund. The fundraising season begins with the annual Casino Night, a costume-themed event that raises scholarship funds for college-bound high school seniors through donations and proceeds from a silent auction.

The scholars fund has received more than $240,000 since its inception in 2016.

Half of the money raised each year goes to a student (s) whose parents or grandparents work in the local defense industry and the other half to student (s) heading to college as a result of their participation in The Cap & Gown Project. The C&G Project focuses on making college a reality for underprivileged kids attending high school in Madison County.

The 2020 winners were: Isaiah Caldwell, a marketing management and communications major at the University of Montevallo; Montana Edwards, a biochemistry major at the University of Delaware; Marian Emery, an English major at the University of Alabama in Huntsville and Naomi McDonald, a digital and graphic design major at the University of Alabama in Huntsville.

The 2021 winners were: Makenzie Friend, of Mae Jemison High; Stephanie Brianna Goodloe, of James Clemons High; DaQuarrius Poole, of Columbia High; Zachary Barbre, of Huntsville High; Shakiya Friend, of Mae Jemison High; Jakeisha Lewis, of Virgil I. Grissom High; Ketty-Daphney Ngwese, of New Century Technology High and Olwabamise Goodness Olabode, of Virgil I. Grissom High.

The Community Scholars Fund has grown from four students to 20 students supported by the fund.

“When we started this scholarship program I never imagined that it would grow like this. The students are amazing, the donors are amazing, my staff is amazing,” Moise said. “This is our fourth year and this year alone we were able to award $92,000! These kids are going to change the world. Each person that attends our annual Casino Night helps to support our scholars.”

In addition to the Scholars Fund, Vector’s philanthropy supports local nonprofits through its Community Impact Fund.

“Vector is committed to serving our community through leadership development. We strive to build up the leaders of tomorrow and replace ourselves over time with the philanthropic funders of the future,” Jay Dryden, VWS managing partner, said.

Share article on social media or email: