The video is a testimonial‑driven brand story for the WINGS (Women Executives of Charlotte) Scholarship Program. It opens with Speaker A recalling the first scholar, Theresa Shelton, whose dream of becoming a nurse‑midwife was interrupted by domestic violence and the responsibility of raising three teenage children while working as a teacher’s aide. After receiving a call from Gloria Gibson announcing her scholarship award, Theresa’s life changed: she earned her degree in 2000, began working at Presbyterian Hospital as an educator in women’s GYN surgery and mother‑baby services, and later transitioned to a stroke navigator role in neurology. Throughout the narrative, multiple speakers—scholars, program leaders, and alumni—describe how WINGS targets non‑traditional female college students, offering mentorship, workshops, and a powerful network of women executives. They emphasize the program’s “secret sauce” of mentorship, the emotional support that builds confidence, and the broader mission to lift women out of low‑wage circumstances into college graduation, professional careers, and economic upward mobility. The story highlights the ripple effect on families: Theresa’s three children now hold college degrees, and other scholars report newfound self‑belief, patience, and hope for the future. The overarching message is that WINGS not only provides financial aid but also cultivates lasting personal and professional development, strengthening families and 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 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'm the oldest of 4. 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. Tony 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.
