CHARLOTTE — Seventeen college students who are Catholic parishioners in North Carolina have been awarded a total of $51,000 in scholarships from the George Pitman Endowment Fund.
Created with an estate gift of $1.2 million by the late George Warren Pitman, a businessman and philanthropist, the scholarships are available to applicants who live in Mecklenburg County or Dunn.
Pitman was a renowned designer and ran his firm, George Pitman Inc., from his home for more than 30 years until his death in 2007 at age 79. Pitman was a graduate of Mount St. Mary’s College in Maryland and Bright’s School of Design in Chicago.
Through the George Warren Pitman Scholarship Fund, college-bound Catholics can apply for renewable awards of up to $3,000, depending on the type of college (two-year, four-year or vocational) they attend.
Of the 17, six are first-time recipients. Two will attend UNC-Chapel Hill, while others will attend N.C. State University, Hillsdale College, Auburn University and American University. Of the 11 students who received renewal scholarships, six attend UNC-Chapel Hill, and the others are students at the University of South Carolina, University of Tennessee, Denison University, Clemson University and The Catholic University of America.
“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.
“More and more people across the diocese are remembering the Church in their estate plans – gifts from thousands to millions – and we are thankful for their generosity.”
The Pitman Scholarship has given out $213,000 since its beginning in 2018.
Donors like Pitman who make a planned gift to the diocese or any of its parishes, schools, ministries or agencies become members of the Catholic Heritage Society, which currently has nearly 1,800 members.
— Courtney McLaughlin