Two BCCC students receive first Wilkinson/Archbell Scholarships

Two Beaufort County Community College students have received the first scholarships awarded from an endowment created by a gift from the trust of Beaufort County lawyer John A. Wilkinson. Chosen for the award were Amanda Holland and Blake Paszt.

Holland, 32, of Pinetown, left, is a student in BCCC’s Associate Degree Nursing Program. A graduate of Washington High School, Holland is also a cosmetology graduate. She is employed at Capelli Salon as a stylist. She is the daughter of Waverly and Judy Holland of Washington. After graduating from BCCC, she plans to work as a nurse while continuing her education.

Paszt, 18, of Pinetown, right, is a student in BCCC’s Electrical Engineering Program. He is a graduate of Northside High School and plans to continue his education at East Carolina University after completing his studies at BCCC. He is the son of Deborah and Richard Paszt of Pinetown.

The endowment was established by a gift from the John A. Wilkinson Foundation, which also made gifts to other charities, including the George H. and Laura E. Brown Library, following Wilkinson’s death in 2001.

Wilkinson, a Beaufort County native, practiced law in the county for over 60 years. He served in the law firms of Ward and Wilkinson, Wilkinson and Vosburgh and Wilkinson and Rader before retiring in 1995. He also served as president of the Second District Judicial Bar Association.

Wilkinson was active in civic and political affairs in Beaufort County and North Carolina throughout his life.

A U.S. Army veteran who served in World War II, Wilkinson was a member of American Legion Post 15 and a member of the Washington Masonic Lodge #675 A.F. & A.M.

He was a delegate for 40 years to the Republican National Convention and served on the National Republican Committee in 1983 to 1984, among other party positions. He was a candidate for the N.C. House of Representatives in 1966, 1980 and 1982. In 1988, Wilkinson was inducted into the N.C. Republican Party Hall of Fame.

Under guidelines established by the college and foundation representatives, the gift will be invested with a portion of its earnings to be used to fund scholarships and faculty and staff awards that promote excellence in education.