The promotional video commemorating the 25th anniversary of the WINGS (Women Executives of Charlotte) Scholarship Program features a series of heartfelt testimonials from scholars, mentors, and program members. The narrative opens with the story of the program’s first scholar, Theresa Shelton, who escaped domestic violence and pursued her dream of becoming a nurse‑midwife, ultimately graduating and inspiring her three children to earn college degrees. Other scholars recount how the scholarship enabled them to transition from low‑wage or stagnant jobs to professional roles—such as a graduate who became a stroke navigator at Presbyterian Hospital—highlighting the program’s role in securing employment and fostering economic upward mobility. Mentors and members emphasize the “secret sauce” of the initiative: a robust mentorship network powered by the Women Executives of Charlotte, which supports non‑traditional female students, builds confidence, and provides life‑skills that cannot be taught in a classroom. The video underscores the broader mission of WINGS members, who, as trailblazing women in their companies, feel a responsibility to give back, nurturing personal and professional development for scholars. Overall, the piece illustrates how the scholarship transforms individual lives, strengthens families, and creates a ripple effect of empowerment across the community.
Chapters
My most vivid memory is our very first scholar, Theresa Shelton.
I used to drive past Presbyterian Hospital and I would always say, I want to work in that building, I want to work in that building, and I never ever thought that I would.
Her dream was to be a nurse midwife. That had always been her dream. She took us into her confidence and burst into tears and said that she had just left her home because of a domestic violence situation.
I had 3 teenage children. I was working as a teacher assistant at the time, but I had no idea how I would go forward. I received a phone call from Gloria Gibson. It always makes me tear up. And she said that I was awarded the scholarship. scholarship, and I couldn't believe it. And that moment just opened up my life.
All the members were trailblazers. They were women who were first in their companies. We believed we had a responsibility to give back.
We were helping women be able to achieve their dream, be able to move out of circumstances where some of them were making barely minimum wage, to now receiving a college degree.
When I graduated in 2000, I went to Presbyterian Hospital at that time. I was the educator for the women's department for GYN surgery and mother-baby. Since then, I've been working as the stroke navigator for the neurology department there.
When you meet these scholars initially, they're retreating and they lack confidence, and many of them have overcome so many challenges in their life that you just We feel for them, but we see, we see what's inside them.
We are really sort of targeting sort of those non-traditional female college students. I think our secret sauce is the mentoring and the broader WE, Women Executives of Charlotte, network that we can tap into to help these scholars through anything they need.
I have 5 siblings. I waited 8 years before I could go back to school, and I never lost faith that I could do it. I want to be a real estate attorney. You know, the reason I push so hard is because I watched my mother work so hard, you know, and she wanted us to do better than she was able to do. I've had people through WINGS that have shown me that there are very smart, educated, Strong women leading the industry I want to be in.
Any one of us could be these women. I had mentors. I would not be where I am today if it had not been for a mentor relationship. Many of them. Many women and men who lifted me up, who shared with me, who gave me feedback regularly.
What I love about WINGS is It expands our mission beyond the membership. So we are nurturing and supporting the personal and professional development of these women. And the bonds that are created there and the trust that gets built is palpable. You can feel it.
It changes how you view things. It changes how you handle your life. I was waitressing and I was kind of stagnant. I didn't really know what to do. The things that I've learned from my mentor and these workshops and some of the partners is things that can't be taught in the classroom. Toni now is— I believe in myself. I'm more patient. And I'm just— I'm excited about my life. I'm excited about what comes next and very hopeful for it.
We want to help them secure employment. We want to help them achieve that economic upward mobility and ultimately strengthen their families.
These are women that genuinely care and genuinely want to see you in the same position as them, so it's a different type of love and concern that I've never truly experienced.
One of the greatest days of my life was when I went to Theresa's graduation from Queens, but the best thing about Theresa's story The story is all 3 of her children have, have college degrees now.
The WINGS Scholarship Program grew me. It helped me mature into myself, and with me maturing into myself, I was able to give to my kids. I was able to be a role model for them.
Every story is inspirational, and every story is about each of us standing on the shoulders of other women and men who've gone before, who have believed in us, opened doors for us, supported us, and helped us achieve our dreams.
