James E. and Evelyn Smith III Scholarship awarded

Karen Taft of Walstonburg has received a scholarship awarded from an endowment established by a former Beaufort County Community College staff member in honor of her parents.

Karen Taft

Taft, 28, is a student in BCCC’s Human Services Technology Program. A graduate of Junius H. Rose High School in Greenville, Taft plans to work at a social services agency in the state after graduating from BCCC. The daughter of Melvin Edwards of Farmville and Crystal Simms of Greenville, Taft has two children.

“The financial assistance this scholarship provided will be a great help to me in paying my educational expenses and it will allow me to concentrate more of my time for studying,” she said. “I promise I will work very hard and eventually give something back to others.”

The endowment was established by Mandy Jones, a counselor at BCCC since 1990, in honor of her parents to commemorate their life-long love of learning. The endowment will fund a scholarship, to be awarded annually to a curriculum student with preference given to a student who is a Human Services Technology student. 

James and Evelyn Smith

The Smiths have had a long-standing association with BCCC both as teachers and students. James Smith taught economics in the early years of BCCC, when classes were held over the old fire department on Market Street. He also taught the personal income tax course through continuing education for several years on the college’s current campus on U.S. 264 East of Washington. Evelyn Smith took classes at BCCC to help with the family business.

For more information on establishing a scholarship in honor or memory of someone, contact the BCCC Foundation at 252-940-6326. To learn more about the numerous scholarships available at BCCC, visit the college website at www.beaufortccc.edu.