Social Work Students Awarded Dereck Whittenburg Foundation Scholarships

Two NC State School of Social Work students, Marcilla Demry and Ramir Woodard, have been awarded Dereck Whittenburg (DW) Foundation Scholarships. These scholarships aim to extend financial assistance to deserving college students and to embody the DW Foundation mantra of “Dream. Believe. Work. Now Finish!”

The student recipients were presented their scholarships on March 25, 2021 during a special meet-and-greet with Dereck Whittenburg and Jacqueline Whittenburg, Founder and Co-Founder of the DW Foundation. Those in attendance also included Dr. Karen Bullock, Mr. Anthony Bennett, and Mr. Jim Hansen.

According to Marcilla Demry, a senior earning her BSW, “This scholarship will help me moving forward to finish the home stretch of this degree and journey at NC State University. As a first generation college student, the support from the DW Foundation means a lot in making sure I can focus on my education and not other problems that may hinder me.”

Ms. Demry, originally from Windsor, NC, hopes to pursue a career in medical social work or a related field working with populations affected by intimate partner violence. “I hope to one day work on a macro scale to focus on advocacy and policy. I hope to bridge the gaps that remain today from inequity, especially for marginalized and underrepresented groups of people,” she said.

Ramir Woodard, a Raleigh native and transfer student from Wake Tech Community College, looks forward to the assistance this scholarship has brought him. “The scholarship will help me take summer courses this year, so I can graduate in December. It will also help pay for many of my textbooks this year.”

After the completion of his BSW degree, Ramir intends to further his education by earning his MSW from NC State. In the meantime, he hopes to continue to act as a community resource and pursue social justice work in the Raleigh area.

If you would like to learn more about the Dereck Whittenburg Foundation, including their opportunities and events, please visit their website.