The Outer Banks Community Foundation announced Friday that it had awarded $241,800 in scholarships this year to help Outer Banks students achieve their educational dreams.
Thirty-four graduating seniors from Cape Hatteras Secondary School, First Flight High School, Manteo High School, Ocracoke School and the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics have been awarded $119,500 in scholarships for the 2024-25 academic year, the foundation said. The nonprofit said 19 of these students received renewable awards that could follow them through four years of college.
Sponsor Spotlight
“This was a record-breaking year for us all around with an increasing number of applications and awards,” said Outer Banks Community Foundation Scholarship Chair and Director Robin Mann. “It was very encouraging working alongside our dedicated staff to assure students were receiving the needed assistance throughout the application process. Our committees enjoy getting to know each and every applying student through their application and interviews.”
Mann called the experience of attending the award ceremonies and participating in the scholarship delivery “heartwarming and enjoyable.”
In addition to these awards, the Community Foundation said it had granted financial support totaling $122,300 to 40 current college students with multiyear scholarships and three College of the Albemarle Dare Guarantee graduates who are pursuing four-year degrees.
The Community Foundation said its most prestigious and significant grants totaled $106,000 in new and renewable scholarship awards this year. Seven of these enhanced scholarship awards were given to newly selected graduating seniors.
Two Elizabeth and Wayne Evans Scholarships, each a four-year, $20,000 renewable award, have been granted to Alayna Jester, a graduating senior from First Flight High School, and Benjamin Hanusik, a graduating senior from Manteo High School. The recipients will be pursuing nursing degrees at East Carolina University and the University of North Carolina Wilmington, respectively.
Sponsor Spotlight
The Greg and Eden Honeycutt Scholarship, a four-year, $40,000 renewable award, was presented to Mariah Temple, a graduating senior from Ocracoke School. Temple will attend the UNC Chapel Hill, where she plans to double major in media and journalism and English and comparative literature, concentrating in either social justice and literature or creative writing. Additionally, she expressed an interest in pursuing a minor in global engagement.
The Jerry and Arlene Davis Scholarship, another four-year, $24,000 renewable scholarship, went to Samantha Vargas-Aparicio, a First Flight High School graduating senior. Samantha will attend the UNC Chapel Hill in the fall and plans to major in biology and minor in public health or public health management.
The Josephine A. Oden Scholarship, a four-year, $20,000 renewable scholarship, was awarded to Sherlyn Mendieta-Lozano, a Cape Hatteras Secondary School graduating senior. She plans to study international business at UNC Charlotte, saying, “I decided that this was going to be my major because of the influence DECA has had on me in the past three years that I have been a part of the club. And, International Business will also allow me to travel, which I have always wanted to do.”
The Milton A. Jewell Academic Scholarship, a four-year, $24,000 renewable scholarship, was awarded to Catherine Tyre, a Manteo High School graduating senior. Catherine will attend Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University this fall, where she intends to major in civil and environmental engineering and pursue a minor in music.
The inaugural Smith-Cooper Scholarship, a four-year, $20,000 renewable award, was granted to Zane Hughes, a graduating senior from First Flight High School and a first-generation college student. Hughes plans to pursue a degree in engineering or another science- or math-related field at UNC Charlotte.
The R. Stewart Couch Hatteras Island Scholarship, a one-time, $8,000 award, went to Austin Jones of Cape Hatteras Secondary School. Austin plans to major in exercise and sports science, at William Peace University.
The foundation has published online a full list of scholarship recipients.
The Outer Banks Community Foundation manages 70 scholarship programs. The group said more awards will be announced through its Partners scholarship program in the coming months.
Scholarship funds have been generously donated over the years by individuals, families, businesses, nonprofits, civic groups, and government agencies to help local students pursue higher education. Any community member can establish a scholarship fund with the Outer Banks Community Foundation by calling 252-423-3003, or can donate to an existing fund online at www.obcf.org/donate.
