Washington Rotary Scholarship awarded

A Chocowinity student received a scholarship awarded to a Beaufort County Community College student by the Washington Rotary Club.

Receiving the scholarship was Catrena Ross-Keys, a student in BCCC’s Criminal Justice Program. A graduate of Chocowinity High School, Keys is employed as a captain by the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office in the county detention center. She is the daughter of Virgel Ross of Chocowinity and Floyd and Evelyn Ross of Washington and has four children. She plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice after completing her studies at BCCC.

“I want to thank the Washington Rotary Club for thinking of and wanting to help other people,” Ross-Keys said. “Thank you for helping to make my education possible.”

Proceeds from the Washington Rotary Club’s annual barbecue fundraiser provide money for the three scholarships to BCCC students each year. Past fundraisers have generated more than $3,000 for Washington Rotary Club’s service projects, according to club President Mary Jo Vance.

“It’s exciting to see that the Washington Rotary Club can give back to the community in this way,” Vance said. “This is an exceptional individual and I hope that receiving this scholarship will also inspire her to give back to her community after she finishes her studies.”

Rotary is a worldwide organization of business and professional leaders that provides humanitarian service, encourages high ethical standards in all vocations, and helps build goodwill and peace in the world. Approximately 1.2 million Rotarians belong to more than 31,000 Rotary clubs located in 167 countries.