CHARLOTTE — Twenty Catholic college students from parishes across North Carolina have received a total of $60,000 in scholarships from the George Pitman Endowment Fund.
Created with an estate gift of $1.2 million by the late George Warren Pitman, scholarships from the George Pitman Endowment Fund are available to college-bound applicants who live in Mecklenburg County or the City of Dunn.
Pitman was a renowned designer who operated his firm, George Pitman Inc., from his home for more than 30 years until his death in 2007 at the age of 79. He was a graduate of Mount St. Mary’s College in Maryland and the Bright School of Design in Chicago.
Through the scholarship fund, college-bound Catholic students may apply for renewable scholarships of up to $3,000, with award amounts based on the type of institution they attend, including two-year, four-year and vocational schools.
Of the 20 scholarship recipients this year, six are first-time recipients attending N.C. State University, UNC Wilmington, the University of Alabama, The Catholic University of America, Elon University and Western Carolina University. The remaining 14 students received renewable scholarships and attend UNC Chapel Hill, the University of South Carolina, the University of Notre Dame, Auburn University, the University of Tennessee, Denison University, American University and Clemson University.
“Mr. Pitman’s transformative gift continues to benefit Catholic students to attend a college or university of their choice,” said Jim Kelley, diocesan director of development.
“We are thankful for the generosity of more and more people across the diocese who are remembering the Church in their estate plans. Those gifts – from thousands to millions – have a tremendous impact on the lives of students.”
Since its inception in 2018, the Pitman Scholarship Fund has awarded $273,000 in scholarships.
Donors like Pitman who make a planned gift to the diocese or one of its parishes, schools, ministries or agencies become members of the Catholic Heritage Society, which now includes more than 1,800 members.
— Courtney McLaughlin