2025 Scholarships

Recipients

Empowering individuals affected by hurricane Helene

We’re excited to share the recipients of the 2025 Arts & Athletics Recovery Scholarships — students recognized for their creativity, dedication, and resilience. 🐛💛

Thank you to everyone who applied and to our community for helping launch this new program.

Arts and Athletics Recovery Scholarships

Empowering individuals affected by hurricane Helene

Introducing the Arts and Athletics Recovery Scholarships crafted by the planning board of the 2025 Woolly Worm Festival. These scholarships aim to empower individuals affected by hurricane Helene to rebuild their lives through creativity or athleticism. Our 2025 festival scholarship mission is to represent strength, renewal, and the unwavering spirit of recovery here in Avery County and all across Western North Carolina. Scholarship applications are open to programs in Ashe, Avery, Mitchell, Watauga and Yancey Counties. Applications will be accepted until July 18th, 2025 and funding will be distributed by August 1st, 2025.

Scholarship Information

Woolly Worm Festival Arts Recovery Scholarships – Rebuilding Creativity, Inspiring Hope

Mission Statement: The Arts Recovery Scholarship is dedicated to supporting young artists whose lives and creative journeys have been impacted by hurricane Helene. This scholarship aims to foster healing, resilience, and renewal through artistic expression, providing recipients with the resources and encouragement to rebuild their passion, grow their talents, and inspire hope within their communities.

  • Youth Category (Any program supporting students of middle school age or younger)
  • High School Category (Any program supporting students of high school age)
  • College Category (Any program supporting students of collegiate age)

All applications should be emailed directly to Victoria Bowman at hello@woollyworm.com

Woolly Worm Festival Athletics Recovery Scholarships – Powering Recovery, One Athlete at a Time

Mission Statement: The Athletics Recovery Scholarship is committed to empowering student-athletes affected by hurricane Helene to overcome adversity and rebuild their strength, skills, and determination. Through this scholarship, we honor the spirit of resilience and recovery, helping recipients regain their momentum, pursue excellence in sports, and lead with courage both on and off the field.

  • Youth Category (Any program supporting students of middle school age or younger)
  • High School Category (Any program supporting students of high school age)
  • College Category (Any program supporting students of collegiate age)

All applications should be emailed directly to Victoria Bowman at hello@woollyworm.com