Centennial Scholarship Will Increase Minimum Award to $20,000 to Benefit Outstanding Textiles Students
Starting in fall 2026, the Centennial Scholarship Program will boost the minimum award that scholars receive from $15,000 to $20,000, thanks to the generosity of major donors and the Wilson family.
Behind every Centennial Scholar is a network of support and a world of opportunity. That foundation just got even stronger, and its impact will be felt for years to come.
To help students meet the cost of attendance at NC State, the Centennial Scholarship Program will increase its minimum award from $15,000 to $20,000. This expanded support will enable high-achieving students at the Wilson College of Textiles to focus more on their futures and less on their finances.
Today, total college expenses, including tuition, housing, meals, books, fees and personal costs, exceed $25,000 per year for in-state undergraduates living on campus.
By raising the minimum award, the Centennial Scholarship Program will cover more than 80% of the total cost of attendance, thereby making NC State more affordable and accessible.
Beginning in fall 2026, every current and incoming Centennial Scholar will receive at least $20,000 per year in scholarship funding. This is made possible through support from generous contributions from major donors across the textile community and a new gift from the generous and multi-generational textile graduate Wilson family.
“This investment reflects the Wilson family’s and our college’s deep commitment to access, excellence and supporting the next generation of leaders,” says David Hinks, dean of the Wilson College of Textiles. “This increase makes the Centennial Scholarship Program one of the most impactful college-based scholarship programs in the nation.”
The $8 million commitment from the Wilson family — led by Elizabeth Creswell “Cres” Wilson Calabrese ’89 and Frederick “Rick” E. Wilson III ’87 — also brings the total number of fully endowed Centennial Scholarships to 40, fully closing the program’s endowment gap.
“Our NC State textiles education has opened countless doors for us. We’re honored to help do the same for future students.”
“Since its early days, the Centennial Scholarship program has helped this college recruit the brightest future textile professionals. The opportunity to expand access to life-changing experiences at our alma mater felt like a natural extension of our family’s commitment to giving back,” said Rick Wilson, when the family’s newest gift was first announced. “Our NC State textiles education has opened countless doors for us. We’re honored to help do the same for future students.”
More than a scholarship
Established in 1999 to celebrate the Wilson College of Textiles’ 100th anniversary, the Centennial Scholarship Program provides merit-based scholarships to exceptional incoming students and sets them on a path to success.
Generous donations from the college’s vast network of supporters — including alumni, industry partners, faculty, staff and friends — through the North Carolina Textile Foundation (NCTF) make this vital scholarship program possible.
“The Wilson family’s belief is shared with the many donors who have supported our Centennial Scholars over the past 26 years,” says Michael Ward, executive director of the NCTF. “These collective contributions to the largest college-based scholarship program will ensure that the next generation of textile leaders remains strong.”
By easing financial burdens, the Centennial Scholarship Program empowers scholars to pursue their passions at the world’s leading textile institution.
But it doesn’t stop at tuition support. The scholarship program is a springboard for leadership, exploration and impact.
Each scholar also receives up to $7,500 in enrichment funding to broaden their college experience. Whether they’re studying abroad, interning with global companies or participating in leadership programs, Centennial Scholars gain the exposure and experiences that prepare them to lead in a global industry.
At the Wilson College of Textiles, support doesn’t end at graduation. Centennial Scholars, along with all Textiles students, become part of a lifelong network committed to excellence because Wilson is for life.
Opportunity in action
The impact of the donor support that has made this increase possible is already being felt. Just ask the students who the scholarship program supports.
“Our Centennial Scholarships have given us access to once-in-a-lifetime opportunities that transformed our college experiences,” says Hannah Horwitz, a Class of 2026 Jacques Weber Centennial Scholar. “Now, that will go even further thanks to this exciting increase in the minimum award provided.”
Last year, Horwitz used her enrichment funding to study abroad in Lyon, France, at ITECH Lyon.
“My Centennial Scholarship not only made this opportunity possible, but it also showed me how important it is to give back and support the educational experiences of the next generation who will come after me,” she says. “During my study abroad trip, I learned a lot about the practical approaches of chemistry, from adhesives and cosmetics to textiles.”
She brought that global perspective home and into her interview with Glen Raven, one of the college’s longstanding industry partners. Horwitz credits her connections as a Centennial Scholar, her leadership as an NCTF student ambassador and her hands-on learning for helping her secure a summer internship at the company in the research and development department.
“Our Centennial Scholarships have given us access to once-in-a-lifetime opportunities that transformed our college experiences. Now, that will go even further thanks to this exciting increase in the minimum award provided.”
The impact doesn’t stop at graduation.
Class of 2021 Centennial Scholar Jakub Sciora ’21, ’22, now a process engineer at Hexcel Corporation, says his scholarship shaped his college years and his professional path.
“Receiving a Centennial Scholarship wasn’t just a financial benefit. It meant I was part of a community that believed in my potential from day one,” Sciora says. “To see the program continue to grow means more students will get to feel that same sense of support and belonging.”
How you can make a difference
The Wilson family’s latest gift to the Centennial Scholarship Program also made them the first Textiles Futures Philanthropists. This innovative approach to giving allows donors to holistically support the Wilson College of Textiles at different giving levels.
Whether it’s supporting faculty research, graduate student success, high-impact student experiences or the Dean’s Textiles Innovation Fund, gifts can be directed to the areas that matter most to donors or be bundled to support the college’s most urgent priorities.
Want to learn more about how you can make a transformative impact? Contact Michael Ward at the North Carolina Textile Foundation.
