Bridgit Nations, of Whittier, North Carolina, is the recipient of two NCCF scholarships: the Julia Hunt Endowment and the Swain County Public Schools Foundation Scholarship Endowment.

Nations has 17 years of experience as a teaching assistant in Swain County Schools. She currently works with first-grade students at East Elementary. She will attend Western Governors University online to pursue a bachelor’s degree in elementary education while continuing to work as a teaching assistant and give back to her community through a variety of volunteer roles.

At WGU, she hopes to strengthen her academic foundation while developing the skills necessary to be an effective and compassionate elementary teacher. Nations aims to deepen her understanding of child development, inclusive teaching practices and curriculum design so she can meet students where they are and support diverse learning needs.

“I want my classroom to be a place where students feel safe to ask questions, make mistakes, and discover their potential,” she said. “Earning my degree will allow me to move from supporting the classroom to leading one, making a lasting impact on students at a critical stage in their development.”

“Returning to school at 49 represents both a personal milestone and a professional calling,” said Nations, whose son attends Southwestern Community College and daughter will attend the University of North Carolina School of the Arts in the fall. “For me, college is not just about earning a degree. It is about fulfilling a long-held goal and preparing myself to make a meaningful difference in the classroom.”

Nations wants to model resilience, determination and the belief that it is never too late to grow for her children while balancing work, family, community involvement and higher education. She plans to dedicate her life to education for many years to come.