For many high school students in Robeson County, the school year is almost over. Many of these students will be graduating and have already made plans to continue their education at a community college, trade school, or at a major college or university. Others will be entering the job market as they develop a profession or as they continue in a profession in which they worked while in high school.

The problem facing many of the parents of children who wish to further their education is how they're going to pay for it. If you are one of these parents or if you are one of the graduating seniors who have already developed the habit of reading local newspapers in order to keep up with what is happening in your community, let me share some information with you about a couple of scholarships that are available for Robeson County students.

Each year, the Robeson County Crop Promotion Association and the family of the late Linwood Singletary (a prominent farmer in Robeson County) provide the Linwood Singletary Memorial Scholarship. This is a $1,000 scholarship for students who wish to pursue a career related to agriculture. Keep in mind, there are very few professions that are not related in one way or another to agriculture.

Those applying for this scholarship do not necessarily have to attend one of the agricultural colleges in the state, North Carolina State University, or North Caroling A&T State University. They can be planning to attend any college, community college, or trade school in the state. Not only are graduating high school seniors eligible for this scholarship but so are students who have completed a portion of their advanced education and will be returning to school in the summer or fall.

Each year, the Robeson County Livestock Association provides the William Dial Memorial Scholarship. This is a $1,000 scholarship, as well, and is presented in the memory of William Dial who was a highly respected livestock producer in Robeson County and a leader in the livestock industry in the state.

This scholarship is provided to a student who is a resident of Robeson County. It is preferred that the student pursue a career related to livestock production, management, or marketing, but there are no restrictions or limitations. The recipient may have plans to attend any college or university in the state.

Applications for either of these scholarships can be obtained from vocational agriculture teachers or guidance counselors at any high school in the county or from UNCP or Robeson Community College. They can also be picked up from the Cooperative Extension Center, which is located at 455 Caton Road (Highway 72 West) in Lumberton. Copies of the applications can also be downloaded here:

Completed applications must be returned to the Robeson County Extension Center no later than Thursday, June 15. Applications will be reviewed by a selection committee, and the successful candidates will be notified by July 15, so they can have the scholarship funds available before school starts.

Please keep in mind that the Linwood Singletary Memorial Scholarship is being made available to those wishing to pursue a career related to agriculture. Some students may wish to further their education and then return to the family farm and become involved in production agriculture, but there are many other professions that are either directly or indirectly related to agriculture.

In North Carolina, less than 2% of our population is involved in production agriculture. However, agriculture is the largest segment of our state's economy, employing over 40% of the workforce and generating over $62 billion worth of income. As a comparison, the travel industry is the second largest segment of our economy, and it provides only about $14 billion each year to our state's economy.

According to some research I read recently, the lifetime income of families headed by individuals with a bachelor's degree will be about $1.6 million more than the incomes of families headed by those with just a high-school diploma. Census information indicates that in 1999, the national average income for a male age 25 or over who holds a bachelor's degree was about $61,000, compared to about $32,000 for a male with a high-school diploma. The college graduate's income was about $29,000 more each year than the person who only graduated from high school. Income trends indicate that as our society becomes more high-tech and more highly skilled, those with only a high-school diploma or GED are sinking steadily lower.

A college education is a very profitable investment. Every dollar spent on a college education produces $34.85 in increased lifetime income. Some people feel that they cannot afford to go to college, but a person really cannot afford not to go to college.

Even if a graduating senior does not want to go to a four-year college, the statistics are almost as dramatic for those who further their education at a community college. In the recent Annual Report released by Robeson Community College, it indicates that a student with a two-year degree will earn on average $156,390 more in their lifetime than a person with just a high school diploma or GED.

Parents, please share this information with your children who are finishing high school and trying to consider what they will do. Encourage them to continue their education and, if appropriate, encourage them to apply for one of these scholarships. If you need more information, please visit the web address I provided above or call my office at 910-671-3276.

E-mail address: Everett_Davis@ncsu.edu

Mailing Address:
P. O. Box 2280
Lumberton, NC 28359-2280

Phone: 910-671-3276
Fax: 910-671-6278

Date Created 05/25/06