Parker receives Margaret Hodges Hackney and Irwin and Frances Hulbert Scholarships

Demeka Parker, a student in the Practical Nursing Program at Beaufort County Community College, has been chosen by the BCCC Foundation to receive the Margaret Hodges Hackney and Irwin and France Hulbert Scholarships to attend BCCC this fall.

Demeka Vines Parker

Parker, 24, of Greenville, is a graduate of J.H. Rose High School and holds a Certified Nurse Aide I certificate. She is employed as a nurse aide at Golden Living Center. Parker is the daughter of Alton and Tracey Vines. She and her husband, Wiley, have two children. After graduating from BCCC, Parker plans to continue her studies to become a nurse practitioner.

“This scholarship has been a blessing to me,” she said. “I am truly honored to be a recipient of this award.”

The Margaret Hodges Hackney Scholarship is funded by an endowment. Established in 2005 in memory of Mrs. Hackney, the endowment made permanent the long-time, annually-funded scholarship Mrs. Hackney gave in memory of her father, Ralph H. Hodges.

Since 1988, the scholarship has been given to a BCCC nursing student who demonstrates financial need and academic merit.

Margaret Hodges Hackney

Mrs. Hackney’s interest in nursing grew from her 24-year association with the Beaufort County Community Advisory Committee. Mrs. Hackney was appointed to the group – whose members serve as ombudsmen for people in nursing homes – when it was formed in 1977 by then- Gov. James B. Hunt Jr.

Irwin Hulbert

The group was instrumental in working with BCCC to establish the Licensed Practical Nursing, or LPN, and Nurse Aide programs. Today, over 40 percent of the region’s nursing personnel are graduates of BCCC.

The Irwin and Frances Hulbert Scholarship is funded by an endowment established by the Hulberts’ sons, Ned Hulbert of Harrisville, N.H.; Robin Hulbert of Peterborough, N.H., and David Hulbert of Wilmington and their families and friends.

The Hulberts served Episcopal parishes and their larger communities in Jesup, Ga.; Hopkinsville, Ky., and Georgetown, S.C. before coming to Washington in 1965. They served St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Washington and Trinity Episcopal Church in Chocowinity for over 40 years.

Mrs. Hulbert served on the board of the Beaufort County Community College Foundation and sponsored scholarships for technical, vocational and nursing students through the foundation.