Scholarships may be either endowed or funded annually. An endowed scholarship is permanently funded by the donor, and scholarships are awarded from investment income. Endowed scholarships may be funded over a period of several years as the donor desires.
For an annual scholarship, the donor contributes each year for that year’s scholarship. Scholarship amounts vary with the donor’s annual contribution. We strongly encourage donors to commit to four years of scholarship support: Incoming freshmen are awarded scholarships, and these scholarships are renewed for three additional years, given appropriate academic progress and grade point averages.

The foundation’s named scholarships are based solely on merit and do not consider financial need as part of the selection process. There are four named scholarships:

Centennial Scholarships: Named to honor the college’s 100th anniversary, these are the top scholarships awarded by the NCTF, at a minimum of $15,000 per year for four years. The scholarship also provides $7,500 as a special enrichment fund that may be used for study abroad, leadership programs, career explorations or other approved enrichment activities. Centennials are awarded to incoming freshmen on the basis of academic achievement in high school, proven and potential leadership qualities, involvement in extracurricular activities and unique life experiences. All Centennial Scholars take part in a unique honors class during their first year.

NCTF Scholarships: A four-year scholarship with a $5,000 annual award. This scholarship is given to students who are the next-highest-ranked candidates for the Centennial Scholarship.

NCTF Merit Graduate Fellowships: Fellowships for graduate students provide up to $10,000 per year to support their teaching and research and to cover the costs of health insurance.

Prestige Scholarships: Offered to the next-highest-ranking candidates who were not awarded Centennial or NCTF scholarships, Prestige Scholars are awarded $2,500 per year for four years.

Textile Pioneer Scholarships: The scholarship provides funding to students from non-metropolitan North Carolina areas who have an interest in the textile industry. The Textile Pioneer Scholarship is the college’s first need-based scholarship, and it provides a minimum of $14,000 per year for four years and $4,000 in enrichment funds to incoming freshmen. 

An endowed professorship requires a contribution of $1 million. Such named professorships are established to recognize the scholarly research contributions of faculty members or to attract a nationally recognized individual with scholarly credentials, such as membership in one of the National Academies.

Across the college and in every department, opportunities exist to recognize and honor loved ones, industry leaders or organizations through the naming of facilities significant to the donor or honoree. Funds invested in facility naming may support the construction or renovation of a space, or they may create an endowment to support continuing maintenance and programming in a facility.

From a minimum of $50,000, naming opportunities present a diverse range of options in which to invest in the college. If you are interested in a naming opportunity, we will be more than happy to work with you to select the most appropriate program or space.