ROANOKE ISLAND — The nonprofit Outer Banks Community Foundation announced Friday the creation of a scholarship fund for college-bound Ocracoke Island students and named in honor of a physician and his wife and their family’s love for the community.
The foundation said the Dr. Frederic B. Jr. and Ernestine H. Westervelt Scholarship Fund is “a tribute to the enduring connection of the Westervelt family with the Ocracoke community.”
Sponsor Spotlight
Dr. Westervelt, who died in 2023, his wife Ernestine “Ernie” and their children chose to establish the scholarship fund as a testament to his legacy, fostering education and community support for generations to come.
“We wanted to do something that would be worthwhile and would help the community,” Ernie Westervelt said in a statement, “because we loved living there.”
A life devoted to service
Dr. Westervelt’s career included 30 years at the University of Virginia in the field of nephrology. The foundation said his role in establishing early dialysis programs and his subsequent commitment to community health exemplify a life devoted to service. After leaving the UVA, he opened his own dialysis clinic which he led for another 10 years, before moving to the Outer Banks.
For over six decades, the Westervelts found solace and joy on the island, making it their permanent home in 2005.
“Described by his family as a kind and ethical man who chose his words carefully, Fred was deeply appreciative of the remote island that allowed him to rest from the chaos of his regular life,” according to the foundation.
Sponsor Spotlight
The scholarship, administered by the Outer Banks Community Foundation, will provide renewable support to eligible Ocracoke students pursuing higher education.
“The Outer Banks Community Foundation extends its heartfelt gratitude to the Westervelt family for their generous contribution,” said Community Foundation Board Chair Jean-Louise Dixon. “This important new charitable fund embodies the spirit of philanthropy that strengthens and uplifts the Ocracoke community.”
Parents and students interested in applying for any of the Outer Banks Community Foundation scholarships can now access the common application at https://obcf.org/scholarships/.
If you are interested in setting up an endowment fund, visit https://obcf.org/giving/create-a-fund/ or call the Community Foundation at 252-423-3003. Funds can be created to memorialize loved ones, support a favorite issue or charity, provide scholarships, and more. Anyone can learn about or donate to any existing fund online at www.obcf.org/donate.
The Outer Banks Community Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit charitable organization that inspires philanthropy and connects people who care with causes that matter. The Community Foundation manages 220 charitable funds for individuals and agencies, including 70 scholarship funds; awards grants to nonprofits and scholarships for higher education, and provides tailored services to help donors pursue their charitable interests. Since its inception in 1982, the Community Foundation has awarded more than $13 million in grants and scholarships.
