M. Louise Thomas Scholarships

These merit-based scholarships are awarded to third-year undergraduates who have achieved artistic excellence in their arts discipline in first two years of undergraduate study at UNCSA.

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Established by M. Louise Thomas in 2004.

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Miss Thomas was born March 14, 1922 in Stanly County to the late Millard Wriston and Jennie Candace Smith Thomas. She attended Oakboro School in Stanly County and continued her education at Mars Hill College. She later graduated from East Carolina University and received her Masters from Wake Forest University. Miss Thomas began her career as a buyer at Ivey’s in Charlotte and moved to Winston-Salem in 1959 where she became the first female officer of Thalheimers Department Store as Vice-President. The last years of her career were spent in Richmond, VA, with Thalheimers, where she retired as Senior Vice-President of Merchandising. Miss Thomas returned to Winston-Salem in 1986 upon retiring and became active in her church and garden club. She served on the Advisory Board of Mars Hill College, was Alumna of the year in 1993 and was honored by ECU as outstanding female graduate in business. She was a member of Centenary United Methodist Church in Winston-Salem. In 2011 Miss Thomas published her autobiography, Dear Emily: A Memoir, My Life in Fine Department Stores. She enjoyed traveling with her work which took her to Europe and later to the Far East for more than 20 years. She was a member of many organizations including, Yadkin River Patriots DAR, Spade & Trowel Garden Club and Mary Symington Book Club.