Scholarships totaling $12,000 were awarded March 5 as the Salisbury Civitan Club had its annual Scholarship Day during a meeting at the Country Club of Salisbury.
Eight local college and high school students received the 2009 awards in the annual renewal of a scholarship program the Civitan Club has been sponsoring for more than 40 years.
The awards this year included five $1,500 scholarships to students at Catawba College, Livingstone College and Rowan-Cabarrus Community College. Three high school awards of $1,500 each were also presented.
Coordinated by the Civitan Scholarship Committee and the Salisbury Civitan Club Charitable Foundation, the annual scholarships are funded by club projects as well as income from the Charitable Foundation’s endowment.
The faculty and department members at the three institutions select the five college winners. The three high school scholarships are awarded based on a competitive application process, including an essay and a demonstration of service to the community. The Scholarship Committee selects winners with assistance from high school guidance departments.
“We feel this scholarship program is one of the best investments we can make as a service organization to our community.” said Civitan Club president Steve Clark, “It is important to recognize and encourage academic excellence and good citizenship in our young people.”
The 2009 scholarship awards include:
– The Dr. Walter Low Tatum Scholarships in Nursing, presented to two nursing students at RCCC. The winners are LaVonda Douglas of Concord, a second-year student in the practical nursing degree program; and Krystal Allen of Huntersville, who will graduate in 2010 from the associate degree nursing program.
– The John Nelson Haden Scholarship in Music, presented to a music major at Catawba College. The winner is Allannah S. Irwin of Hersey, Pa. She is a senior majoring music education.
– The Dr. Jack Knox Scholarship in Education, presented to an education major at Livingstone College. The winner is senior Felicia Ruffin of Salisbury. She is an elementary education major.
– The Rev. Milton B. Faust Scholarship in Education, presented to a student in the teacher education program at Catawba College. Susan Pugh of Linwood is the winner. She is a senior elementary education major.
– The Michael Yang Civitan Scholarship, presented to a senior at West Rowan High School. The winner is Melani R. Lippard, daughter of Dana and Susan Lippard of Salisbury. She plans to attend Western Carolina University as a teacher education major.
– The Morton Lerner Memorial Civitan Scholarship, presented to a senior at Salisbury High School. The winner is Hayley R. Mikkelson, daughter of Dan and Winnie Mikkelson of Salisbury. She plans to attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to study communications.
– The Clifford Peeler Humanitarian Scholarship, presented to a senior at Salisbury, North or West Rowan high schools or North Hills Christian School. The winner is Joshua Graham Young, a senior at North Rowan High. The son of Joel and Lisa Young of Salisbury, he plans to pursue pre-med and sports medicine at Davidson College.
The recipients, their families and representatives of each school joined members of the Civitan Club at the awards luncheon. Scholarship Committee Chairman Marny Hendrick presided.
As part of the program, Hendrick gave an update on the club’s endowed scholarship established in 1997 at Catawba College in honor of longtime Civitan leader M.M. “Chub” Richards. Designated for therapeutic recreation majors, the endowment now exceeds $36,000 and has already benefited seven students at Catawba.
For more information on the scholarship program or to make a tax-deductible donation to the Charitable Foundation, contact the Salisbury Civitan Club at P.O. Box 171, Salisbury, NC 28145.