Mountain Findings Awards $20,000 Impact Scholarship to Highlands High School Senior Claire Worley

 Mountain Findings Awards $20,000 Impact Scholarship to Highlands High School Senior Claire Worley

HIGHLANDS, NC — Mountain Findings, a 100% volunteer-run non-profit organization, is proud to announce Claire Worley as the recipient of the 2026 Impact Scholarship Award. Worley, a graduating senior at Highlands High School, will receive a $20,000 four-year scholarship to support her upcoming studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

The Impact Scholarship Award recognizes a graduating senior who demonstrates financial need and a deep, firsthand understanding of the Mountain Findings mission through active volunteerism. Over the past year, Worley worked extensively alongside the organization's volunteers, assisting shoppers, moving furniture, loading vehicles, and operating the register.

Worley’s long-term career goal is to become a critical care nurse, providing vital medical services both domestically and internationally. By lessening the financial burden of higher education, Mountain Findings aims to empower students like Worley to achieve their academic goals and drive positive future change through their careers and life actions.

According to Dan Rupp, President, "We are incredibly proud to support Claire as she takes this next big step toward her dream of helping others.  She has been an invaluable asset to our volunteer team, and we know she will bring that same dedication to her nursing career."

This award is part of a broader commitment by Mountain Findings to support local youth. This year, the organization handed out $64,000 in scholarships to Highlands High School seniors. Additionally, Mountain Findings continues to endow approximately $40,000 in scholarships to past recipients to support them through the completion of their degrees.

About Mountain Findings:

Mountain Findings is a 100% volunteer-run non-profit organization dedicated to supporting the local community and investing in the future of area students through financial aid, ongoing scholarships, and financial support in college, trades, certification, and technology programs.