Laura Price, a recent graduate of Southwestern Community College, has been named the recipient of the Western Carolina University Achievement Award for the Outstanding SCC Transfer Student.

Price, who graduated from SCC with an Associate of Arts degree on May 10, was selected near the end of the spring semester. She received a scholarship that will cover her tuition and fees for four semesters at WCU. The current annual value of this award is more than $2,700.

Price is planning to major in Secondary Education at Western Carolina.

“I’m very excited; I never thought that one day I’d be in this position,” said Price, who lives in Sylva. “Having the opportunity to get a four-year degree is one of the most exciting things that has ever happened to me.”

The new scholarship supports Western Carolina’s C.A.T.S. (Carolina Alliance for Transfer Students) initiative, a collaborative effort between WCU and 12 community colleges in western North Carolina.The purpose of CATS is to enhance educational opportunities for community college students.

In order to be considered for the scholarship, candidates must have been accepted by WCU as full-time, degree-seeking students. They must also have a suggested minimum grade point average of 3.75 on about 60 hours of transferable credit.

For more information, visit www.southwesterncc.edu on the Internet or call 586.4091 or 800.447.4091, ext. 224.