Shore Scholars

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Inspiring ambition. Expanding opportunity.

Guiding the next step.

Where it Started

Launched in 2019 by Yadkin County Schools in partnership with the Shallow Ford Foundation, Shore Scholars serves students at Starmount and Forbush High Schools. The program is underwritten by the Wayne & Bradley Shore Endowment Fund, with the active support of their daughters Karen S. Hopper and Debrah S. Blase.

Program Basics

Each year, 10 Shore Scholars at Starmount and 10 at Forbush are selected to participate. Scholars enter in 11th or 12th grade; when a student graduates, a new Scholar is recruited and selected to fill the opening. The program combines mentoring, peer support, skills‑building workshops, and post‑graduation advising to keep students moving toward their goals.

Assisting with Expenses

All Scholars enroll in community college courses during high school through NC Career & College Promise (NCCP), which covers tuition while in high school. Shore Scholars helps with registration fees, books, uniforms, and tools required by those classes.

The program also provides limited last‑dollar scholarships for the first two years of college; students are guided to identify additional resources and scholarships to fully fund their path.

Apply for Shore Scholars

Eligibility and Commitments

Applicants must:

Be a rising 11th or 12th grader at Starmount or Forbush High School
Have a near 3.0 GPA or higher
Plan for college or career training after high school
Commit to a yearly, one‑day retreat off campus
Meet monthly with a personal mentor
Meet monthly with a peer group
Agree to random drug testing
Commit to 3–4 years of enrollment (based on career pathway)
Honor the school’s code of conduct and be a positive example

Have Questions?

We’re here to help students and families navigate the application process.

Create an Account

To begin the application process, create an account on our online portal.

Creating an account does not add you to the applicant pool — you must follow the next steps to submit an application.

Select Shore Scholars

After you log in, you’ll see all Shallow Ford Foundation opportunities (including scholarships and nonprofit grants).

Please make sure you select the Shore Scholars application before you begin.

Complete your Application

Once you have completed and submitted the Shore Scholars application, you will be added to the applicant pool.