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Charlotte-Mecklenburg Public Schools Foundation Presents First Annual Debbie Antshel Memorial CPCC Scholarship
New Scholarship Honors Memory of Long-Time Community Advocate and Supporter of Education
Henry and Quinn Antshel present the Debbie Antshel Memorial CPCC Scholarship to Kaylan Frazier, a Harding High graduate
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Public Schools Foundation presented the first annual Debbie Antshel Memorial CPCC Scholarship to Kaylan Dionne Frazier on Wednesday, August 13th at 3:00 p.m. on Central Piedmont Community College’s (CPCC) Central Campus . Dr. Peter Gorman, Superintendent of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, and Dr. Tony Zeiss, President of CPCC, gave remarks at the event. Henry Antshel, husband of the late Debbie Antshel, and their son Quinn presented the scholarship to Frazier, Harding High graduate.
For many years, Debbie Antshel provided tremendous leadership within the Charlotte community as an advocate for public education and families. After receiving her Bachelors and Masters of Public Administration degrees from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, she developed and directed a community leadership program at CPCC for high school students who had not graduated. The program empowered students to achieve their GED, find employment, and become leaders in their community. Following her work at CPCC, she served as the Director of Neighborhood Services for the City of Charlotte, where she created the CAN program (Computer Access to Neighborhoods), which increased accessibility to internet services in underserved communities.
Antshel was well known for her work with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, where she served as the Director of Volunteers and Partnerships and later served as the Executive Director of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Public Schools Foundation. In these roles, she established corporate and community partnerships that enriched companies, schools, and the district. In its first year, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Public Schools Foundation, the first of its kind in North Carolina, raised more than $700,000.
Antshel passed away on January 1, 2008 after a courageous battle with cancer. The scholarship was created by the Antshel family to honor her memory and provide an opportunity for a deserving CMS student to continue his or her education following graduation.
This year’s scholarship recipient, Kaylan Dionne Frazier, is a 2008 graduate of Harding University High School. In addition to excelling in academics, Frazier served in various leadership roles including Student Council Vice President, secretary of the Health and Wellness Club, education branch of the NAACP, as well as participating in the marching band, cultural ensemble, Best Friends Leadership Program, and Diamond Girl Leadership program. She also has been actively involved in her church and in the community. Frazier plans to attend CPCC this fall and hopes to major in nursing.
“Few people touch as many children’s lives as Debbie Antshel did,” said Dr. Peter C. Gorman, superintendent of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. “Like so many other institutions in this community, CMS has been enriched by Debbie’s work. What she began at CMS continues today. With this scholarship award, Kaylan Dionne Frazier joins hundreds of students who have been helped by Debbie’s legacy of building partnerships with business and the community to benefit children.”
“CPCC is extremely pleased to be part of this opportunity to help a young student achieve her dream of entering the nursing/allied health profession,” states Dr. Tony Zeiss, President of CPCC. “We also are honored to be involved in an effort that memorializes someone as special as Debbie Antshel. She was a true leader and advocate for children and youth in this community. This scholarship will help keep her memory alive and continue the work she did for education in Charlotte.”
About the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Public Schools Foundation
The mission of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Public Schools Foundation is to leverage supplemental resources to maximize academic achievement by every student in every school in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. The Foundation funds programs and services that ensure that all CMS students are provided the best education available anywhere, preparing every child to lead a rich and productive life.
For many years, Debbie Antshel provided tremendous leadership within the Charlotte community as an advocate for public education and families. After receiving her Bachelors and Masters of Public Administration degrees from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, she developed and directed a community leadership program at CPCC for high school students who had not graduated. The program empowered students to achieve their GED, find employment, and become leaders in their community. Following her work at CPCC, she served as the Director of Neighborhood Services for the City of Charlotte, where she created the CAN program (Computer Access to Neighborhoods), which increased accessibility to internet services in underserved communities.
Antshel was well known for her work with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, where she served as the Director of Volunteers and Partnerships and later served as the Executive Director of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Public Schools Foundation. In these roles, she established corporate and community partnerships that enriched companies, schools, and the district. In its first year, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Public Schools Foundation, the first of its kind in North Carolina, raised more than $700,000.
Antshel passed away on January 1, 2008 after a courageous battle with cancer. The scholarship was created by the Antshel family to honor her memory and provide an opportunity for a deserving CMS student to continue his or her education following graduation.
This year’s scholarship recipient, Kaylan Dionne Frazier, is a 2008 graduate of Harding University High School. In addition to excelling in academics, Frazier served in various leadership roles including Student Council Vice President, secretary of the Health and Wellness Club, education branch of the NAACP, as well as participating in the marching band, cultural ensemble, Best Friends Leadership Program, and Diamond Girl Leadership program. She also has been actively involved in her church and in the community. Frazier plans to attend CPCC this fall and hopes to major in nursing.
“Few people touch as many children’s lives as Debbie Antshel did,” said Dr. Peter C. Gorman, superintendent of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. “Like so many other institutions in this community, CMS has been enriched by Debbie’s work. What she began at CMS continues today. With this scholarship award, Kaylan Dionne Frazier joins hundreds of students who have been helped by Debbie’s legacy of building partnerships with business and the community to benefit children.”
“CPCC is extremely pleased to be part of this opportunity to help a young student achieve her dream of entering the nursing/allied health profession,” states Dr. Tony Zeiss, President of CPCC. “We also are honored to be involved in an effort that memorializes someone as special as Debbie Antshel. She was a true leader and advocate for children and youth in this community. This scholarship will help keep her memory alive and continue the work she did for education in Charlotte.”
About the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Public Schools Foundation
The mission of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Public Schools Foundation is to leverage supplemental resources to maximize academic achievement by every student in every school in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. The Foundation funds programs and services that ensure that all CMS students are provided the best education available anywhere, preparing every child to lead a rich and productive life.
About Central Piedmont Community College
CPCC is the largest community college in North Carolina, offering 100 degree and certification programs, customized corporate training, market-focused continuing education and special interest classes. CPCC is academically, financially and geographically accessible to all citizens of Mecklenburg County. In 2002, the National Alliance of Business named CPCC the Community College of the Year for its response to the workforce and technology needs of local employers and job seekers through innovative educational and training strategies.
CPCC is the largest community college in North Carolina, offering 100 degree and certification programs, customized corporate training, market-focused continuing education and special interest classes. CPCC is academically, financially and geographically accessible to all citizens of Mecklenburg County. In 2002, the National Alliance of Business named CPCC the Community College of the Year for its response to the workforce and technology needs of local employers and job seekers through innovative educational and training strategies.