College announces inaugural scholarship winner

Bo Gray, executive director of the Tri-County Community College Foundation, awards the inaugural Dr. F. David Slagle Memorial Scholarship to Shawna Vasser at the main campus in Peachtree.

Officials with the Tri-County Community College Foundation announced Shawna Vasser, a 2016 graduate of Hayesville High School as the recipient of the inaugural Dr. F. David Slagle Memorial Scholarship.

“Dr. Slagle is an individual whose impact on Tri-County Community College spanned decades, and we are grateful to his family and friends for creating this scholarship to continue serving our students is his memory,” said Bo Gray, executive director of the college’s foundation.

Vasser said she currently is pursuing both an associate in arts and associate in applied science degree at Tri-County Community College.

According to officials with the Tri-County Community College Foundation, the Dr. F. David Slagle Memorial Scholarship was established in 2018. It is designated as an annual scholarship for a Tri-County Community College student who is majoring in business administration or a college transfer degree program; is a resident of Cherokee or Clay County, and a graduate of Andrews or Hayesville High School.

A graduate of Andrews High School and Lenoir-Rhyne College, Dr. Slagle trained as U.S. Navy aviator following the completion of his bachelor’s degree. He earned his master’s degree in education from Western Carolina University, and doctorate in education from Clemson University.

Dr. Slagle began his tenure at Tri-County Community College in 1972, where he would go on to serve in multiple roles, including Dean of Continuing Education, Interim President and Vice President of Research and Development.

For more information about this scholarship or the Tri-County Community College Foundation, call (828) 837-6810.