Three receive mayors’ association scholarships

Three students received a Beaufort County Mayors Association Scholarship to attend Beaufort County Community College this spring.

Selected for the award were Stephanie Chadwick of Belhaven, Lisa Cornelius of Washington, and Laquanda M. Latham of Chocowinity.

Chadwick, 45, is a student in BCCC’s Accounting Program. A graduate of John A. Wilkinson High School, Chadwick hopes to continue her studies and open her own accounting business after graduating from BCCC.

Cornelius, 49, is a student in BCCC’s Business Administration program. A graduate of Thompson High School in Alabaster, Ala., she also completed studies in Early Childhood Education in 2005. Cornelius is employed at Washington High School as a distance learning facilitator. Cornelius has two children.

Latham, 27, is a student in BCCC’s Associate Degree Nursing Program. A graduate of Northside High School, she plans to find a job in her field after completing her studies at BCCC. She is the daughter of Levern Waters and has four children.

The Beaufort County Mayors Association is comprised of the mayors of the seven municipalities in Beaufort County – Aurora, Bath, Belhaven, Chocowinity, Pantego, Washington and Washington Park. The association annually contributes money for scholarships for students from Beaufort County to attend BCCC.

Two BCCC students receive Wilkinson/Archbell Scholarships

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

Kelly, 46, of Belhaven, is a student in BCCC’s Mechanical Drafting and Design Program. A graduate of Bath High School, Kelly plans to get a job in his field after completing his studies at BCCC. He has one daughter.

“I want to share my sincere thanks and gratitude for this scholarship,” he said. “It will go a long way towards helping me reach my goal,”

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

“Thank you for choosing me for this scholarship,” he said. “This is truly a gift.”

The endowment was established by a gift from the John A. Wilkinson Foundation, which also made substantial 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.

Two receive Humphreys Scholarship

Two students at Beaufort County Community College received the Carol and Buster Humphreys Nursing Scholarship to attend BCCC this spring - Shamicka Latonya Davenport and Elisha Michelle Knight.

Davenport, 28, of Plymouth, is a student in BCCC’s Practical Nursing Program. A graduate of Plymouth High School, Davenport also holds an associate’s degree in General Education. She is employed at Plumbee Nursing Center and hopes to continue her nursing studies after graduating from BCCC. Davenport is the daughter of Conroy and Geraldine Davenport of Plymouth and has one child.

“I truly appreciate being chosen to receive this award,” she said.

Knight, 24, of Washington, is a student in BCCC’s Associate Degree Nursing Program. A graduate of Washington High School, she also holds an EKG Technician Certificate. Knight is the daughter of Angelo Graham and the late Lorelei Clark. She is employed as a customer service representative at Blockbuster. After completing her studies at BCCC, Knight hopes to work at a local hospital and pursue a career as a traveling nurse.

“I would like to thank Mr. and Mrs. Humphreys for making this scholarship possible,” she said. “The nursing program is very challenging and it is hard to hold a full-time job while pursuing a degree so this financial help is very much appreciated.”

The scholarship was established by Henry C. “Buster” Humphreys Jr. of Washington and his wife, Carol, to provide financial assistance to a nursing student.

Humphreys, retired president of National Spinning Co., is a member of the BCCC Board of Trustees. Humphreys is past chairman of the Beaufort County Committee of 100, a group of private citizens promoting economic development in the county, and a former member and past chairman of the Board of Directors of the University Health Systems of Eastern Carolina.

Recipients of the scholarship must have a 3.0 grade point average or better. Recipients who maintain a 3.0 GPA are eligible to receive the scholarship each semester until they graduate.

Jennette receives Tankard Scholarship

Carmen Jennette has been chosen to receive the Dorothy and John Tankard Memorial Scholarship to attend Beaufort County Community College this spring. Jennette, 50, of Belhaven, is a student in BCCC’s Business Administration Program. A graduate of Ayden-Grifton High School, she hopes to work in a local bank after completing her studies at BCCC. She has two children.

Funds for the scholarship were raised at the Seventh Annual Cutthroat Croquet Tournament held in Bath in May. Additional proceeds from the tournament were designated for the Historic Bath State Historic Site to make improvements to its historic properties.

The scholarship is awarded annually to a BCCC student living in the Bath or Belhaven area. Dorothy “Dot” Tankard was dedicated to the preservation of Historic Bath and served as director of the Bath Historic Site for many years. John Tankard was a member of the BCCC Board of Trustees from 1980 through 1990.

BCCC Foundation croquet tourney is set

Registration is now under way for the Eighth Annual Cutthroat Croquet Tournament to be held Saturday, May 14 along the waterfront in Bath. The tournament is an annual fund-raiser to continue the Dorothy and John Tankard Memorial Scholarship for a Bath or Belhaven student at Beaufort County Community College and for enhancing Historic Bath, to which the Tankards were dedicated. This year, the tournament will have a new look intended to provide more playing time for those interested in less aggressive play. The first round of the tournament will be used to flight players into one of two flights - the Cutthroat Flight for more aggressive players or the Rapscallion Flight for those who enjoy more leisurely play. Each flight will offer booty for the top four finalists. The tournament will be held in conjunction with Bath Fest, a day-long series of activities that will also include historic demonstrations, homes tours and a crafts show all within walking distance in Bath. As players complete their play, they may tour the entire area at no charge. Southern Bank and Trust Co. of Belhaven, Rod Cantrell, CFP, Edward Jones Investments of Washington and Tankard Farms are the corporate sponsors of the tournament. The registration fee for the tournament is $35 for each player. The fee includes at least two rounds of croquet and a picnic lunch. Spectators may join participants for lunch for a fee of $15. All players must register beginning at 9:30 a.m. They will begin play as soon as a group of four has gathered. To register for the tournament, interested persons can contact Marcia Norwood at 940-6218.

BCCC Golf Tournament

BCCC Golf Tournament is scheduled for October 21, 2011. More details to follow.

Croquet Tournament

BCCC has scheduled their annual Croquet Tournament for Saturday May 14, 2011. More details to follow.