Salisbury Civitan Club awards nine scholarships

The Civitan Club of Salisbury awarded $13,500 in scholarships to nine local college and high school students during its annual Scholarship Day luncheon at the Country Club of Salisbury.

Five $1,500 college scholarships went to students at Catawba College, Livingstone College and Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, and a new high school scholarship was added this year, bringing the total to four high school awards of $1,500 each.

The newest award, created in 2015, honors the memory of the late Rev. Bill Adams, a longtime, faithful Civitan leader and strong supporter of North Hills Christian School. That award went to North Hills senior Brianna Caraccio, daughter of Frank and Jennifer Caraccio of China Grove. She plans to attend Salem College next fall.

Rowan-Cabarrus students Mai “Michelle” Chang and Jennifer L. Carter, both of Salisbury, were awarded the Dr. Walter Low Tatum Scholarships in nursing. Chang is a second year student in the practical nursing program and Carter will graduate in 2015 with an associate’s degree in nursing.

The 2015 winner of the John Nelson Haden Scholarship in Music is Quashona Renee Smith of Atlantic City, New Jersey. The scholarship is presented annually to a music major at Catawba College. Smith is a senior majoring in popular music/music business with a minor in worship arts.

The Dr. Jack Knox Scholarship in Education, is presented each year to an education major at Livingstone College. The 2015 winner is senior LaTracia S. Garriga of Camden, New Jersey, an early childhood education major.

The Rev. Milton B. Faust Scholarship in Education is presented to a student in the teacher education program at Catawba College. Ashley M. Everidge, a junior from Hamptonville, is the winner. She is a literature major with minors in secondary education, psychology and creative writing.

The Michael Yang Civitan Scholarship, presented annually to a senior at West Rowan High School, was awarded to Parker M. Williams, daughter of Gregg and Lauren William of Salisbury. She plans to attend the University of North Carolina at Greensboro next year to study oncology nursing.

The Morton Lerner Memorial Civitan Scholarship, presented annually to a senior at Salisbury High School, was awarded to Carrie C. Davidson, daughter of Dennis and Toni Davidson of Salisbury. She plans to attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina State University or the University of North Carolina at Charlotte next fall.

The Clifford Peeler Humanitarian Scholarship, presented annually to a senior at Salisbury, North Rowan or West Rowan high schools or North Hills Christian School, was awarded to Caroline M. Billingsley, a senior at North Rowan High School. The daughter of Kim and David Billingsley of Salisbury, she plans to major in biology (pharmacy) beginning next fall at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

The faculty and department members at Rowan-Cabarrus, Livingstone and Catawba select the five college award winners. The four high school scholarships are awarded based on a competitive application process, including an essay, and a demonstration of service to the community. The Club 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 John Sofley, “It is important to recognize and encourage academic excellence and good citizenship in our young people.” The recipients, their family members and representatives of each school joined members of the Civitan Club at the awards luncheon.

Scholarship Committee Chairman Marny Hendrick presided over the presentations. As part of the program, Hendrick gave an update on the club’s endowed scholarship established in 1997 at Catawba College in memory of longtime Civitan leader M.M. “Chub” Richards. Designated for therapeutic recreation majors, the endowment now exceeds $36,000 and has already benefited 14 students at Catawba.

The Civitan Club of Salisbury has been awarding scholarships to local students for more than 60 years.

For more information on the 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.

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