Western Piedmont Foundation

SCHOLARSHIP SPOTLIGHT

The Jones-Pons Nursing Scholarship was established by Suzanne Pons Jones to honor the memory of her parents, her brother, her husband and her husband's parents. She chose to support nursing students in appreciation of the compassionate nurses who cared for her loved ones during their final days.

Onesime "Jimmy" Henry Pons Jr. (1924–2011) [pictured, color photo] served in Europe during World War II with the 106th Infantry Division before returning home to co-own Pons Delicatessen in Morganton with his wife, Helen.

Helen Pascal Pons (1924–2005) was Jimmy's wife, business partner, devoted mother, community volunteer and longtime member of Waldensian Presbyterian Church.

Daniel "Bubba" Onesime Pons (1953–2004) worked as a retail manager and was active in Waldensian Presbyterian Church and LPDA, helping preserve Waldensian heritage.

Jesse "Judd" Pinkney Jones (1908–1990) was co-owner of Burke Auto Supply and a faithful member of First United Methodist Church.

Rosa Lee Wilson Jones (1917–2008) was an educator, athlete, gardener and dedicated supporter of women's education through the nonprofit PEO organization. She and Judd shared a love of family, faith and cheering on the Atlanta Braves.

Richard Lee Jones (1952–2001) [pictured, black & white photo] earned a degree in civil engineering, co-owned Burke Auto Supply, taught school, and was remembered for his love of nature and people.

Through this scholarship, their legacy continues by helping future nurses pursue their education and carry forward the same compassion that inspired this meaningful gift.

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SCHOLARSHIP SPOTLIGHT

The Naomi B. and L. Oval Jaynes Nursing Scholarship was established in loving memory of the late Naomi Brandon Jaynes by her husband, the late Lee Oval Jaynes Sr., and their family to provide financial assistance to students in the nursing program at Western Piedmont Community College.

Naomi Brandon Jaynes was born in 1916 in Rowan County, North Carolina, and graduated from Balls Creek High School in Catawba County, according to her obituary. She attended Appalachian State Teachers’ College and taught public school before going into nursing. She worked as a nurse for 32 years, serving at Grace, Valdese General and Broughton hospitals.

Oval Sr. was born in 1914 in Burke County and graduated from Morganton High School, where he played football, according to his obituary. He worked for Huffman Mills and later opened and operated Vinearden Grocery in Morganton. He was a member of the Catawba Valley Masonic Lodge No. 217, the Oasis Shrine Temple, the Mimosa Chapter of the Eastern Star and the Junior Order.

In retirement, Naomi volunteered with the American Red Cross bloodmobile and the Grace Hospital Guild for many years. Oval also volunteered with the ARC bloodmobile and with the Burke County Department of Social Services coordinating distribution of needed items to people. The couple was active in the Burke County AARP Chapter No. 3262, where Naomi was instrumental in setting up the Burke County AARP scholarship for WPCC nursing students, and in their church, First United Methodist Church of Morganton.

Oval and Naomi both received the North Carolina Governor’s Humanitarian Award. Naomi was named “Woman of the Year” for Burke County in 1983, and Oval was honored with a Burke County Best Volunteer Award in 1986 and with an AARP National Community Service Award in 1987.

Naomi passed away in 1998 at age 82, and Oval passed away in 2004 at age 89.

This photo of Oval and Naomi was taken during their 50th wedding anniversary celebration on Dec. 12, 1987.

WPCC President’s and Dean’s List – Summer Semester 2026 - Western Piedmont Community College WPCC President’s and Dean’s List – Summer Semester 2026 Recent News WPCC President’s and Dean’s List – Summer Semester 2026 Scholarship Helps Prepare Single Mom for Business Success Archives Archives WPCC News Home Western Piedmont Community College released a Summer 2026 President’s L...

SCHOLARSHIP SPOTLIGHT

The Building Construction Technology Scholarship was created by Friends of DuPont Forest to provide financial support to students earning an Associate in Applied Science in Building Construction Technology at Western Piedmont Community College.

DuPont State Recreational Forest is a 10,300-acre protected state forest in western North Carolina preserved through a landmark public-private conservation effort, and is home to some of the state's most iconic waterfalls, according to dupontforest.com.

WPCC enjoyed a special 30-year partnership with DuPont SRF, thanks to the efforts of Eric Hurley, adjunct instructor for the building construction technology program at the college and former program coordinator (pictured).

Eric had worked as a supervisor for the North Carolina BRIDGE (Building, Rehabilitating, Instructing, Developing, Growing, Employing) program for four years, leading the program’s participants to complete building service projects at DuPont SRF. When he began working as an instructor at WPCC, he set up a similar service project initiative for the students in the college’s building construction technology program.

The students took trips to DuPont SRF from 1989 to 2019 to complete needed improvements there. They renovated an old cabin to serve as the forest’s visitors’ center, built a bridge to provide easier access to Triple Falls and High Falls, constructed a picnic shelter and several kiosks, created parking lots and rebuilt the dock and gazebo on one of the lakes there.

“They absolutely loved it,” Eric said. “We would go up on Friday, work the afternoon, and then have lunch provided by Friends of DuPont. (We would) work all day Saturday, have supper with Friends of DuPont again, work Sunday as much as we could, then pack up in order to get back home by 5 p.m.”

In 2014, representatives of Friends of DuPont Forest showed appreciation for all the love and care the BCT students put into their service projects by setting up the Building Construction Technology Scholarship.

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WPCC has helped students gain skills, earn degrees, and move forward with purpose. Expand the possibilities of what’s ahead.

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SCHOLARSHIP SPOTLIGHT

The Liz Oxford Memorial Scholarship was established by Dr. Cheryl Oxford, her brother, Joe Oxford, and Louise White in loving memory of Cheryl and Joe's sister, the late Elizabeth Ann Oxford, to provide financial support to students pursuing an Associate of Arts, Associate of Fine Arts or an Associate in Science at Western Piedmont Community College.

Born in 1963, Elizabeth Ann Oxford was “Liz” to all who knew her.

An excellent student, Liz attended school in Glen Alpine, where she played flute in the band, and at Freedom High School (Class of 1981), where she was a cheerleader. Liz was selected to attend the Governor’s School in Drama. At Western Piedmont Community College, she was chief marshal after her freshman year and co-editor of The Legend, the college yearbook. She received an Associate in Fine Arts degree with honors in 1987.

A talented actress, Liz appeared onstage at Freedom under the direction of Ed Grady, at WPCC under the direction of her sister Cheryl, and at the outdoor drama, “From This Day Forward.” Liz played the role of Ayla in “The Clan of the Cave Bear,” Shirley Sprinkle and The Muses’ celebration for visiting author Jean Auel.

Liz rode horses as a girl and developed an appreciation for crafts and Southern literature.

“May this scholarship, which commemorates her irreplaceable spirit, be a boost to others on their journey,” said Cheryl and Louise.

Many thanks to John S. Payne Photography for the beautiful photo of Liz!

We've got an important announcement about an upcoming fundraiser, exciting college updates from our president, grant awards and more in the next edition of the foundation newsletter, coming out tomorrow. You can sign up for our newsletter at https://bit.ly/4cGzo2x or use the link on our Linktree page at linktr.ee/wpccfoundation.

50 years ago at Western Piedmont Community College, this is what registration looked like.... luckily, the process is much more convenient now!

Do you have dreams for a career that you've been putting off? WPCC can help you get the training you need to move forward... visit wpcc.edu to see how easy it is to register for classes. The deadline to register for the fall 2026 semester is Aug. 13.