Latesha Sharpe says she is “humbled and proud” to have been selected as this year’s Scott Scholar. Rightly so – she was among dozens of applicants for the Stephen C. Scott Presidential Scholar Award, Wake Tech’s most prestigious scholarship. A stay-at-home mom just a few years ago, Latesha is now on her way to the career she has always desired.  

Ever since she was a teen, Latesha has wanted to be a nurse. After high school she started taking classes at UNC-Charlotte, but life took a different turn. She got married and had children, and when she was ready to go back to school she chose Wake Tech. "Wake Tech is where I found myself!” she says. “I’ve grown as a person and a leader here.” 

Latesha was a finalist for the Scott Scholar award in her first year at Wake Tech. Under the mentorship of Senior Vice President Bryan Ryan, she was encouraged to apply again. “Having SVP Ryan believe in me is one of my proudest memories at Wake Tech,” she says. “I will never able to thank him enough!” This year, the time was right! Latesha says she thought, “Wow! Me?” when she heard she’d been selected. As a Scott Scholar, she receives up to $3,500 to cover tuition, fees and books for the year along with a laptop, a senior-level administrator who serves as her mentor, a summer internship placement, and one-on-one meetings with President Scott.

Latesha is making the most of her scholarship and her time at Wake Tech by immersing herself in leadership opportunities. She’s a Student Government Association senator, a Financial Aid Ambassador, New Student Orientation leader, and a member of the National Honor Society, the National Society of Leadership and Success, and Phi Theta Kappa. “I’m surrounded by so many great leaders here,” she says, “and I’ve become passionate about education.” Upon earning Associate in Arts and Associate in Science degrees at Wake Tech, she plans to transfer to a four-year university to pursue a bachelor’s degree in nursing. Her ultimate goal is to educate others on the benefits of preventive care.