First Floyd J. Lupton Sr. Scholarship awarded

A Washington man has received the first scholarship awarded from an endowment established at Beaufort County Community College in memory of the long-time congressional aide to former U.S. Rep. Walter B. Jones.

Larry Thomas Woolard, 42, has been chosen to receive the Floyd J. Lupton Sr. Memorial Scholarship. Woolard is a student in BCCC’s Medical Laboratory Technology Program. He is a graduate of Washington High School and plans to study nuclear medicine after graduating from BCCC. He and his wife, Kim, have two children.

“This scholarship could not be more needed,” he said. “It is going to help me meet my goals for the future and help others through my medical training.”

For 26 years, if Northeastern North Carolina needed something done, they called Mr. Lupton who served from 1966 until 1991 as chief of staff to then-U.S. Rep. Walter B. Jones. He died in 2005.

A native of Pantego, Mr. Lupton graduated from Pantego High School. Later he attended North Carolina State University, leaving there to join the Army, where he served in the 99th Infantry Division, seeing action at the Battle of the Bulge, Remagen Bridgehead and battle of Central Europe. He was decorated with the Bronze Star and honorably discharged as a First Lieutenant.

Upon returning to the United States, he was reunited with his sweetheart, Doris Ambrose, and they were married on July 25, 1948. She died in 1996.

Mr. Lupton’s career encompassed many avenues. From working on the family farm in Pantego to years with Norfolk Western Railroad, the NC Wildlife Commission, the Beaufort County Sheriff's Department, and the NC Board of Parole.

During his tenure in Washington, D.C., Mr. Lupton earned the reputation as a dedicated, tireless, and invaluable representative of the people of the former 1st Congressional District. Day or night, whenever someone was in need, they could call the office and hear the familiar Southern accent of Floyd Lupton.

Mr. Lupton received many honors and recognitions which always humbled him. Among those are the 1980 Distinguished Citizen of the Year Award from the Belhaven Chamber of Commerce; September 8, 1983 designated as Floyd Lupton Day in Beaufort County; the "Dare Days" Award in June of 1992; the Order of the Long Leaf Pine presented by former Governor Jim Hunt; a "roast" by the Partnership for the Sounds, and a Department of Transportation ferry bearing his name, among numerous other recognitions, resolutions, and honors of appreciation.

Farish Scholarship awarded to BCCC Business student

A Business Administration student attending Beaufort County Community College this fall have been chosen to receive financial assistance from an endowment created in memory of one of Washington’s most successful businessmen.

Jessica Rogers of Belhaven has been chosen for the award. Rogers, 29, is a graduate of John Dewey High School in Brooklyn, N.Y. She hopes to continue her education at Elizabeth City State University after graduating from BCCC. She has one child.

“Thank you for giving me the opportunity to continue to show my daughter that education is a top priority,” she said.

Known to his friends as “Bobby,” Farish was a successful businessman and entrepreneur whose business and civic interests are reflected in the programs at BCCC whose students receive scholarships from the endowment.

A native of Norfolk, Va., Farish attended the Carolina Military Academy and graduated from Washington High School in 1969. He continued his education throughout his life including Atlantic Christian College; Advance Individual Training in MOS: 95B10, Military Police School, Ft. Gordon, Ga.; Ford Marketing Institute classes in Dealer Operation and Truck Selling Courses, and Wachovia Bank Business Development and Management Training.

Farish’s military service included ROTC from 1966 to 1968 while he attended Carolina Military Academy, Advanced Individual Training in MOS and Military Police School, Ft. Gordon, Georgia in 1971. He was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army Reserve National Guard in 1976.

Farish had numerous business interests. He was a real estate developer and worked in several venues of service throughout his life including Bob Farish Ford Mercury, Washington Motor Company, builder and developer of the Farish Building and Brasswood Apartments, co-owner of Whalebone Motel, the Castaways Inn, Quality Inn & Suites and Brownstone Inn, among many other business interests. Farish was also co-owner and vice-president of Hillside Funeral Service from 1997 until his death in June 2004 at the age of 52.

Hall, McLawhorn receive David C. Lee Scholarships

Two students at Beaufort County Community College have been chosen to receive the David C. Lee scholarships awarded by the school. Selected for the awards were Mable Hall and Ryan McLawhorn.

Hall, 22, of Plymouth, left, is a student in BCCC’s Business Administration program. A graduate of Plymouth High School, she is employed by CHILL, Changing Hearts Instead of Losing Lives. After completing her studies at BCCC, Hall hopes to open a non-profit business that helps unwed mothers and their children. She is the daughter of James Midgette and the late Willie Mae Gant. Hall and her husband, Gerald, have one child.

McLawhorn, 19, of Vanceboro, right, is a student in BCCC’s Automotive Technology Program. A graduate of Southside High School, he is the son of Dennis and Susan McLawhorn of Vanceboro. He hopes to find a job in his field after graduating from BCCC.

The scholarship was established by David Clifton Lee Jr.’s wife, Betty, of Washington, and children Steve and David H. Lee of Washington, Debra Lee Perry of the Woodard’s Pond community, Larry Lee of the Terra Ceia community, and Amanda Lee Sawyer of Belhaven.

A native of Beaufort County, Mr. Lee was born in 1927 and died in 2003. He was a graduate of Pantego High School and attended Mars Hill College. In 1970, Lee founded Lee Chevrolet, Inc. in Washington, now Lee Chevrolet-Pontiac-Buick, Inc., which continues to be owned and operated by his family. Mr. Lee was active in the automobile business in Beaufort County for over 50 years and in civic affairs throughout his life, including service on the Beaufort County Board of Education for a number of years.

Tyson receives Cypress Landing Scholarship

Victoria B. Tyson has been chosen to receive the scholarship awarded from contributions to an endowment at Beaufort County Community College by residents of Cypress Landing.

Tyson, 41, of Chocowinity, is studying computer programming at BCCC. A graduate of Washington High School, she is employed by United Way of Beaufort County. Tyson hopes to find a job in her field after completing her studies at BCCC. She has one child.

“Thank you very much helping me and my family,” she said.

In 2007, the Cypress Landing Homeowners Association raised money among its members to create a $5,000 endowment to provide a scholarship for a student to attend BCCC. Since that time, the endowment has grown to more than $15,425 thanks to generous contributions from the association’s members. Mrs. Helen Sommerkamp and Mr. Chris Harris lead the initial effort to organize the campaign. This scholarship is awarded to a BCCC student living in Beaufort County and who demonstrates need.

BCCC Foundation Scholarship awarded

A Washington student recently received a scholarship awarded by the Beaufort County Community College Foundation to attend the college this spring. The scholarship was awarded with funds raised by the annual foundation golf tournament.

Receiving the award is Larry W. Latham, 31, an electrical engineering student at BCCC. A graduate of Northside High School, Larry Latham hopes to find a job in his field after completing his studies at BCCC. He has two children.

James E. and Evelyn Smith III Scholarship Awarded

A Washington student has received a scholarship awarded from an endowment established by a Beaufort County Community College staff member in honor of her parents. James R. Shrader has been chosen for the award.

Shrader, 57, is a student in BCCC’s Human Services Technology Program. He attended Lakewood High School in Lakewood, Calif., and earned a General Educational Development, or GED, before enrolling in BCCC. He hopes to continue his studies and work with at-risk teens after graduating from BCCC.

“I want to thank the donor for this scholarship and all who have helped me get back into the swing of school,” he said.

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 “differently-abled” and challenged to turn obstacles to opportunities.

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.

Community scholarship awarded for BCCC

A Washington student seeking an associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Beaufort County Community College has been awarded the Community Scholarship to attend BCCC this fall.

Sandra Crisp, 40, who hopes to work in a school or day care after completing her studies at BCCC, has been chosen for the award. A graduate of David Crocket High School, she is the daughter of Kathy and Ronnie Harrell of Washington. She and her husband, Dustin, have four children.

“I would like to say thank you from my whole family,” she said.

The scholarship is awarded by the Beaufort County Community College Foundation from funds raised by the foundation’s annual golf tournament and from contributions from individuals members of the foundation’s Board of Directors.