Monk Family Scholarship - The Oakwood School

Dear New Rising 9th to 12th Grade Students:

The Oakwood School is accepting inquiries of interest for the 2023-2024 Monk Family Scholarship. Selection criteria is based on exhibiting merit qualities that reflect Oakwood's Portrait of a Graduate including character, integrity, service, academic achievement, leadership, inspiration, and extracurricular involvement.

This is a full tuition scholarship to attend The Oakwood School. New, rising 9th to 12th grade students are eligible to apply. This is a merit based scholarship for students who also demonstrate financial need.

Bill and Agnes Monk Family Foundation established an endowment to provide four full tuition scholarships to The Oakwood School. The Monk Family Scholarship was established in memory of longtime friends of the school, the late Bill and Agnes Monk of Farmville, NC who loved and supported the community for decades.

Please contact me for more information and to schedule a tour!

Regards,

Dr. Amanda Bates, Director of Admissions | admissions@theoakwoodschool.org | 252.931.0760 Ext. 1304

Key 2023-24 Scholarship Dates

Information Session at Lanoca Coffee in Farmville - Monday, March 27
DEADLINE: Admissions and Financial Assistance Applications Due - Saturday, April 15
Group Testing - Saturday, April 22
Finalists Announced - Thursday, April 27
Competition Day - Sunday, April 30
Recipient(s) Announced - Tuesday, May 16

2019-20 Monk Family Scholar

(Pictured L to R) Upper School Coordinator, Jennifer Smith; Monk Family Scholar, Aaliyah Smith; Bill & Agnes Monk Family Foundation, William Monk; and Head of School, Dan Quesnel

The Oakwood School is pleased to congratulate Aaliyah Smith for being awarded the first ever Monk Family Scholarship for the 2019-20 school year. Aaliyah is the daughter of Germaine and Camillia Smith of Greenville.

Aaliyah came to Oakwood from E.B. Aycock Middle School. She wanted to attend Oakwood for its academic opportunities and small class sizes, as well as participate in our theatrical productions and sing in chorus. Aaliyah described herself as intelligent, interesting, creative, analytical, open-minded, and innovative. She has previously been involved with extracurricular activities like Robotics, Beta Club, singing/chorus, art, volleyball, church youth group, and dancing. Science is her favorite subject. Her former English teacher describes Aaliyah as being a smart, caring student and a leader with the ability to work well with others.

The Bill & Agnes Monk Family Foundation has endowed four, renewable FULL tuition Monk Family Scholarships for students to attend The Oakwood School. The scholarship is open to all families of new rising 9th through 12th grade students. Each applicant must successfully complete Oakwood's admissions and financial assistance process and participate in a panel interview. Selection criteria are based on exhibiting merit qualities that reflect Oakwood's Portrait of a Graduate including character, integrity, service, academic achievement, leadership, inspiration and extracurricular involvement, as well as demonstrating financial need.

Upper School Coordinator Jennifer Smith commented, "Aaliyah's transition to Oakwood has been seamless. She has easily adopted the culture of the Upper School and shown excellence in her academics. On the social front, she has easily assimilated in the 9th grade. You would never know this was her first year. I am thrilled to have Aaliyah as a part of Oakwood's Class of 2023."

In regards to her transition to The Oakwood School, Aaliyah Smith said, "The Oakwood students made me feel right at home and as though I have been here just as long as they have. They were generous in showing me the ropes and telling me things I needed to know and that I might not be used to. No one acted different towards me because I was new. Since my siblings have been here for a while, I was lucky to have met some of my classmates beforehand which helped too. I really feel like I belong here."

2021-2022 Monk Family Scholars

(Pictured L to R) Monk Family Scholar, Caden Ellis; Head of School, Dan Quesnel; and Monk Family Scholar, Liam O'Laughlin

The Oakwood School is pleased to congratulate new rising 9th grader Caden Ellis and new rising 10th grader Liam O’Laughlin for being awarded 2021-22 Monk Family Scholarships! They join rising junior Aaliyah Smith in being awarded Monk Family Scholarships since the scholarship began in 2019.

2022-2023 Monk Family Scholar

(Pictured L to R) Monk Family Scholar, Mary Beth Wright; and Head of School, Dan Quesnel

The Oakwood School is pleased to congratulate new rising 9th grader Mary Beth Wright for being awarded the 2022-23 Monk Family Scholarship!

Mary Beth comes to us from Farmville, NC, where her parents own a local coffee roaster, Lanoca Coffee Company. Her extracurricular activities include Beta Club, Battle of the Books, All-County Orchestra, Science Olympiad, Robotics, Recreation Soccer and volunteering at the Farmville Library. She and her family are excited for her to join Oakwood for a safe, challenging and well-rounded educational experience.

As a recipient, Mary Beth joins rising sophomore Caden Ellis, rising junior Liam O’Laughlin and rising senior Aaliyah Smith. This will be the first time since the scholarship began in 2019 that we will have a scholar in each of the 9th-12th grades!

2023-2024 Monk Family Scholar

The Oakwood School is pleased to congratulate new rising freshman Kingston Farland for being awarded the 2023-24 Monk Family Scholarship!

Kingston and his family will soon relocate from Meridian, MS, to Greenville. Kingston is an avid reader, creative writer, and talented artist involved in archery, robotics, and tennis. At his previous school, he founded a film club, wrote a screenplay, and received the only perfect score on the WrAP test in the school’s history. He and his family - Dad Taylor, Mom Helene, Jones (2nd), and Isla (5th) - are excited to join Oakwood for a challenging and well-rounded educational experience. Kingston especially looks forward to being involved in theatre and the Innovation Lab.

As a recipient, Kingston joins rising sophomore Mary Beth Wright, rising junior Caden Ellis, and rising senior Liam O’Laughlin. Current senior Aaliyah Smith will be graduating this June, attending UNC-Wilmington in the fall, and will be our first-ever Monk Family Scholar graduate. Let’s all give a warm Oakwood welcome to Kingston!

Bill & Agnes Monk Family Foundation History

William Cabot Monk (Bill) was born on August 7, 1926 in Farmville. Bill was a graduate of Woodberry Forest School and then a pilot in the U.S. Air Force during World War II before returning to graduate from the University of North Carolina. Upon graduation, Bill went to work for the family tobacco processing business alongside his two brothers, Coy and Robert, in A.C. Monk and Company in Farmville and later married long time sweetheart, Agnes Quinerly Monk in 1960. Known for the twinkle in his eye, unending kindness, thoughtfulness and generosity, Bill was the definition of a true gentleman whose passions were his family and his business. Together, they built the company into a successful enterprise where he enjoyed building meaningful relationships and friendships worldwide. Bill died as he lived his life, peacefully and gently on November 11, 2016.

Agnes was born 1926 in Ayden and graduated from Salem College in 1948. She worked as a teacher and administration at A.C. Monk Tobacco Company before marrying Bill and having children Molly and William. Agnes was a lover of life. She was very active through the years in everything and everyone she touched, particularly in the Salem College and Farmville communities. She was an extraordinary hostess, welcoming friends from around the world into her home through their association with A.C. Monk Tobacco Company. She also had strong ties with the arts in Farmville and her church, the Farmville United Methodist Church. We lost a generous soul with Agnes on January 17, 2012.

Philanthropy was a top priority for both Bill and Agnes who made a difference in a humble way both because of a deep interest and a civic responsibility. They were dedicated to numerous causes and organizations particularly in their hometown of Farmville, eastern North Carolina and a number of educational institutions and their programs. Bill and Agnes had a particular love for The Oakwood School, since two of their grandchildren Will and Aurelia attended. Agnes and Bill made several substantial donations to add stage curtains, lighting, and sound system upgrades. These improvements helped to launch the Fine Arts program to another level as recognized in the naming of Monk Gymnasium and school's multipurpose building known as Agnes Q. Monk Hall.

In 2018, their children William and Aurelia Monk and John and Molly Monk Mears established the Bill and Agnes Monk Family Foundation to continue their family's legacy of support. Today, the Monk Family Foundation is making a commitment to attract new students to The Oakwood School with affordable access through an endowed scholarship fund called the Monk Family Scholarship.