Betty Kay Williams presents the 2009 Linwood Singletary Memorial Scholarship to Ashleigh Stephens, who will attend North Carolina State University this fall majoring in Animal Science and Food Science.

I bet you can come up with lots of different reasons how you can tell summer is here. It's time to go to the beach. Gnats and mosquitoes attack you every time you go outdoors. Summer softball games. Cookouts. Mowing grass.

There are many others, but for me, the two most noticeable things that remind me that summer is here is unbearable hot and humid days, and the kids are out of school.

For many school-age children, summer means a time for summer vacations, summer camps, church activities, and sleepovers with friends. For others, it is a time of boredom, because there is nothing to do - no obligations, no responsibilities, no interaction with friends, and no summer jobs.

Most high school students usually find a way to land a summer job to keep them from being bored and to keep them out of trouble. It also helps that summer jobs provide a little income, so they have their own spending money, which really helps their parents during these difficult economic times.

But for those students who just graduated from high school, this summer takes on a whole new meaning. If they have not already found one, some of them will be looking for summer jobs with the hopes that those jobs will become permanent. They will be trying to establish a career.

Other high school graduates are preparing to continue their formal education. Some will be entering trade schools or community colleges. Others will be entering colleges or universities, either here in North Carolina or in other states.

It was my pleasure this past week to be present as a scholarship was presented to one of our outstanding graduating seniors. Miss Ashleigh Stephens, graduating senior at Lumberton High School, was presented the Linwood Singletary Memorial Scholarship in recognition of her many accomplishments while in high school and in support of her efforts to develop a career in an agricultural related field.

The Robeson County Crop Promotion Association and the family of the late Linwood Singletary established this scholarship over 15 years ago. Since it was first established, this scholarship has provided more than $15,000 to local students as they prepare themselves for a rewarding career.

Miss Stephens was ranked 29th in her class at Lumberton High School. She was enrolled in, and excelled in, every agricultural course offered. She was a member of FFA all four years serving as Chapter Treasurer and Reporter and as Federation Vice President.

She earned her Greenhand Degree, Chapter Degree, and State Degree because of her involvement in FFA activities and contests. According to Frankie Farbotko, Agricultural Educator at Lumberton High School, "Ashleigh has outstanding organizational skills and is fully capable of multitasking despite deadline pressures."

Not only did Miss Stephens excel in FFA, she was inducted into the National Honor Society, the National Beta Club, the National Technical Honor Society, and was listed in Who's Who Among American High School Students.

Miss Stephens is also involved in her community. She is very active in her church, has served as a volunteer at Odum Home in Pembroke and at the Operation Christmas Child Distribution Center in Charlotte, and participated in many community events for the elderly.

Miss Stephens will begin classes at North Carolina State University in August. She will major in Animal Science and plans to complete a Master's Degree in Food Science, with goals of becoming a Food Microbiologist.

The members of the Robeson County Crop Promotion Association include many of the agribusinesses in Robeson and adjoining counties and the many other businesses that provide services or products to our local farmers. Their financial support allows this association to support many activities that promote agriculture in the county. It also recognizes farmers who produce our foods and fibers, such as at an annual awards banquet each year. And with support from the Singletary family, the association provides a $1,000 scholarship each year.

Mrs. Betty Kay Williams is President and Manager of the Lumberton Branch of Cape Fear Farm Credit and currently serves as President of the Crop Promotion Association. She appointed the anonymous committee that reviewed all applications and selected the current recipient. Mrs. Williams stated, "We are often concerned about how well our youth are prepared to become our future leaders, but when you attend FFA events and see students like Ashleigh in action, you feel comfortable that we are in good hands."

We need many more young leaders like Ashleigh Stephens, like the others who applied for this scholarship, and like all those who excelled as they graduate from our local high schools this week. Congratulate them, encourage them, and most of all, support them in their efforts to become our future leaders.

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 06/10/09