SALISBURY — For more than 70 years, the Civitan Club of Salisbury has been awarding scholarships to enable local students to achieve their academic goals. That long tradition continued March 6, as the Civitan Club awarded scholarships totaling $16,500 during its annual Scholarship Day program.

Eleven local college and high school students were selected as recipients of the 2025 scholarships. The awards this year included six $1,500 college scholarships to students at Catawba College, Livingstone College, Hood Theological Seminary and Rowan-Cabarrus Community College. Five high school scholarship winners of $1500 each were also recognized.

Coordinated by the Civitan Club’s Scholarship Committee and the Salisbury Civitan Club Charitable Foundation, the annual scholarships are funded this year by the Charitable Foundation’s endowment. This year’s recognition luncheon was held at the Country Club of Salisbury with the winners and school representatives present.

The 2025 scholarship awards presented March 6 included:

• The USS Dorchester-Civitan Scholarship presented to a second-year student in the Chaplaincy program at Hood Theological Seminary. The winner is Samuel B. Allen of Winston-Salem.

• The Dr. Walter Low Tatum Scholarships in Nursing, presented to two nursing students at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College. The winners include Vanessa Raquel Ramos of Kannapolis, a second year student in the practical nursing program; and Leigh McKie of Concord who will graduate in 2026 from the associate degree nursing program at RCCC.

• The Frank W. Goodnight Civitan, Scholarship in Music, presented annually to a music major at Catawba College. The 2025 winner is William Gonzalez-Lopez of Low Gap. He is a senior majoring in music and music business.

• The Dr. Jack Knox Scholarship in Education, presented to an education major at Livingstone College. The 2025 winner is a junior majoring in secondary education and social Studies — Jahleel Morman from Greensboro.

• The Rev. Milton B. Faust Scholarship in Education, presented to a student in the teacher education program at Catawba College. Michelle Olea Carbajal, a junior from Lexington, is the 2025 winner. She is a biology and secondary education major. 

• The Michael Yang Memorial Civitan Scholarship is presented annually to a senior at North Rowan High School. The 2025 winner is senior Dasia Elder, daughter of Greg and Renee Beam. She plans to major in political science at UNC-Chapel Hill or Howard University next fall.

• The Morton S. Lerner Memorial Civitan Scholarship, presented annually to a senior at Salisbury High School. The 2025 winner is Ashley Yang, daughter of Steve and Lori Yang of Salisbury. She plans to major in media and journalism at UNC-Chapel Hill beginning next fall.

• The Rev. William K. Adams Memorial Civitan Scholarship presented annually to a North Hills Christian School senior went to Edem Gilbreath, daughter of Rev. Larry and Angela Gilbreath of Salisbury. She plans to major in nursing, health science and intercultural studies at North Greenville University next fall.

• The Civitan Club of Salisbury Honor Scholarship, a new award for 2025, goes to a senior at either Salisbury, North Rowan, West Rowan, North Hills Christian School or Salisbury Academy Upper School. The winner is Sara (Ebbie) Lescoe, a senior at Salisbury Academy Upper School. The daughter of Jake and Fran Lescoe of Salisbury, she will attend Meredith College next fall to study international relations.

• The Clifford Peeler Humanitarian Scholarship, presented annually to a senior at either Salisbury, North Rowan, West Rowan, North Hills Christian School or Salisbury Academy Upper School. The 2025 winner is James Gray Davis, a senior at Salisbury High School. The son of James and Andrea Davis, he plans to attend either Clemson University or Wake Forest next year to study biology and health administration.

For more information on the Civitan Club Scholarship program or to make a tax-deductible donation to the Club’s Charitable Foundation, contact the Civitan Club of Salisbury at P.O. Box 171, Salisbury, NC 28145.