Wytheville Community College held the Ninth Annual Dr. Thomas L. Barnes Veteran Scholarship Fund Golf Tournament on Oct. 6 at the Wytheville Golf Club.
The WCC Educational Foundation and the Appalachian Warrior Foundation hosted the yearly event to raise funds for the “Dr. Thomas. L. Barnes Veterans Scholarship.”
Fourteen teams teed off at 11 a.m. after opening remarks from Dr. Dean Sprinkle, WCC President; Frank Davis, WCC student and military veteran who is the 2023 recipient of the “Dr. Thomas L. Barnes Veterans Scholarship”; and Andrew Barnes, founder of Appalachian Warrior Foundation and WCC alumnus.
Dean Sprinkle stated, “This tournament was started nine years ago thanks to Mr. Andrew Barnes and his desire to honor his father, Dr. Thomas Barnes, and to support fellow veterans attending WCC. We greatly appreciate the support of tournament sponsors and golfers to honor Dr. Thomas Barnes and help veterans continue their education.”
Dr. Thomas L. Barnes graduated in 1964 from Penn State University with his doctorate degree in education. Dr. Barnes served honorably in the United States Navy from (1964-2002) and retired as a Naval Captain holding many high-ranking positions at various duty stations around the world. He held the position of Dean of Students and Director of Veterans Affairs at WCC from 1972-2004. During his career, Dr. Barnes led and managed various activities in Wytheville and surrounding communities, along with serving as the president of the Wytheville Lions Club. The “Dr. Thomas L. Barnes Veterans Scholarship” provides educational opportunities for veterans and children of veterans who are attending WCC, and the scholarship is a lasting symbol of his passion and generosity. Dr. Barnes passed in 2019.
Andrew Barnes thanked the Wytheville Community College Educational Foundation, the Wytheville Golf Club, the tournament sponsors and players.
He said, “We continue to be amazed with our community coming together each year to support the 1% of military veterans who have served our country who want to continue their education at Wytheville Community College. It’s through their generosity that we have helped veterans focus on their education, while helping to relieve financial burdens that could alter their path to success. We can’t thank our community enough for their giving and support that will provide an educational opportunity for our veterans while also enhancing our workforce.”
Frank Davis of Marion is taking General Studies courses at WCC. He plans to transfer to a four-year university to study law or criminal justice in order to receive his Ph.D. Davis spoke to the group of golfers and sponsors, saying, “I served in the military police for the United States Marine Corps and was sent to Europe during the beginning of the Ukrainian conflict. I now attend WCC and plan on continuing my education in Criminal Justice and Political Science. Thank you to the WCC Educational Foundation, the Appalachian Warrior Foundation, and the Barnes family for this scholarship. This scholarship is helping with expenses for traveling back and forth to school.”
Wytheville Community College, Appalachian Warrior Foundation, and Wytheville Golf Club thank the following tournament sponsors:
Associate Sponsors: Klockner Pentaplast, Clarke Precision Machine, Mark Tulli, and David Barnes
Green Sponsors: Coalfield Services, The Bradberry Family (In Memory of Larry H. “Bo” Bradberry), The Jerry Hurt Family, and “Mike and Kali–Fellow Veterans from Woodlawn, Virginia”
Hole Sponsors: Mr. and Mrs. D. Clayton Horne, Dr. Rhonda Catron-Wood; Noel Wood, Anne Sluder (In Memory of John and Doris Fontaine), Petals of Wytheville, True Blue Pharmacy, Wytheville Office Supply; Nancy Underwood; Meredith Tulli, Community Animal Clinic, Horace Mann Educators, Dr. Dean Sprinkle; Janie Hardin, New Century Title, and John W. Jones
“We thank these sponsors for their generous support. They received recognition with signs on the greens during the tournament, and through social media and local news outlets. We also greatly appreciate the golfers who came out in support of our students,” Sprinkle stated.
The WCC Educational Foundation continues to accept and appreciate donations that will go directly to financial assistance for WCC students. For more information, contact the foundation office at (276) 223-4771.
