The COVID-19 pandemic has presented extraordinary challenges to people all over the world. Students at the University of West Georgia are no exception. When Brian Newsome, executive vice president and co-owner of general contracting company Albion, realized that need, he stepped forward to make a difference.

Under the leadership of Newsome, and through a generous contribution, Albion has established The Albion Achievement Endowed Scholarship with the University of West Georgia Foundation Inc.

The scholarship is intended to support high-performing students who have demonstrated a financial need because of recent circumstances.

“We looked at the impact of closing schools and what that did to the students,” Newsome said. “Many of these students – when they weren’t in school – had part-time jobs that have now evaporated. These factors compound the financial impact on their lives.”

Albion is a long-time corporate vendor of the university, and Newsome said he feels like a member of the UWG community, so deciding to donate to the betterment of UWG students was a natural choice.

“We’ve worked on the UWG campus for years, and we are very honored to be part of the family,” he said. “When we were thinking about supporting students, we wanted to give that support where we had a heart already.”

As the months have passed Newsome said it has been heartbreaking to witness the unparalleled challenges students have faced. Newsome said he and others at Albion felt compelled to explore ways to positively offer their support.

“In today’s social climate, it is vital to look inward to see what we can do to help our society,” Newsome said. ‘“We have a civic and moral responsibility to reach out and lend a hand in our community. We’re blessed to be in a position to help and really felt a calling to do so.”

The scholarship will be awarded annually. The recipients of the award must be juniors or seniors, have a minimum GPA of 3.0 and demonstrate financial need. Should the recipients be juniors who continue to meet the requirements, the students will be eligible to receive the scholarship their senior year.

“This investment is about building promising futures for our students,” Newsome said. “These students are trying to improve their lives. They have a great opportunity to succeed in life if they figure out what they like to do, apply themselves and don’t stop. We want to be a part of making sure that happens.”

For more information about how you can support UWG students through an endowment, scholarship or annual giving, please visit the UWG Give West page.