CONTRIBUTED

Scholarships are established for many reasons.

Greg Cummings shared his reasons with an audience of more than 300 at the 5th Annual Scholarship Recognition Dinner Thursday, Nov. 20, at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke.

"It just came to me in an instant one day that a scholarship to help young people was the right way to honor the memory of my son," said Cummings, who is a Pembroke town councilman and director of economic development for Robeson County.

Cummings' son, who was known as "C.G.," died in an automobile collision in 1992 at the age of 16.

"In the weeks afterward, kids told me how C.G. had helped them, whether it was loaning them money for lunch or tutoring them in classes they were having trouble with," Cummings said. "He had a good heart, and he would always help people who needed it. That is why I established this scholarship. Here it is 16 years later, and I never thought I would be able to talk about him like this."

The scholarship recognition dinner honors donors like Cummings and lets them meet the recipients of the scholarships they've established.

Tim Brayboy, a 1964 graduate and member of the UNCP athletic Hall of Fame, said his scholarship honors his father and mother, Tecumseh and Eva Brayboy, a farm family who "wanted something better for their children."

The scholarship also honors Brayboy's ancestors, two of whom were founders of the University.

"It was a small group of people who believed that education was the cornerstone of progress," Brayboy said. "It they could see the university today, I believe they would be pleased with the progress."

Frank Britt and his mother, Sarah M. Britt, established an endowed scholarship to honor Franklin Britt Sr., who taught biology at UNCP for many years.

"My father loved to collect plants, and he loved this school," said Britt, who is a facilities architect at UNCP. "My mother and I have been able to contribute every year to the scholarship. It's a great value, I think."

Dr. Elinor Foster, dean of Library Services at UNCP, manages another growing scholarship. Her recipient in 2008, Lisa Walters, was recently accepted to the Bowman Gray School of Medicine at Wake Forest University.

"Students must apply for our scholarship; it's competitive," Foster said. "This is the second year in a row that our scholar was accepted to medical school. We've added funds to increase the grant each year. The Friends of the Library believe it's the best way to put our money to good use."

Lakisha Williams, a senior from Taylortown, and a recipient of the Kisha Williams Scholarship, said she will be happy to see her Dec. 13 graduation date.

"It's been difficult with two part-time jobs and a two-and-a-half-hour commute each day," Williams said. "I am proud to say I am the ninth child in my family and the first in my immediate family to graduate from college."

Doshie Smith, a junior from Laurinburg, said the James Ebert Endowed Scholarship helped make her dream of college graduation come true.

"This scholarship allowed me to see that there are individuals out there who care about students like us," Smith said.

"This scholarship has encouraged me to continue my studies, and I hope that in some way I will make an impact on the world."

To learn more about scholarships and giving to UNCP, contact the Office for Advancement at (910) 521-6252 or e-mail advancement@ uncp.edu.