Auden Laurence, a graduating senior from Pinecrest High School, was presented the $2,000 scholarship from the Central Carolinas Association of The Phi Beta Kappa Society at the awards ceremony at Pinecrest High School auditorium on May 30.

Laurence was unaware that she was the scholarship recipient until Dr. Russell McAllister, the Central Carolinas Phi Beta Kappa Association president, made the announcement during the awards ceremony. She is the daughter of Linda Dusenbury and Jeffrey Laurence and plans to attend Harvard University.

Last fall, six high school rising seniors were selected by school administrators in the six high schools in Moore and Lee Counties to receive the Phi Beta Kappa Association award for scholastic excellence, leadership and an interest to enroll in a liberal arts and sciences curriculum upon entering college in 2012.

The six students selected were Eleanor Brightbill, of Sanford, at Lee County High; Sable Alexandra Scott, of Carthage, at North Moore High; Meagan Jo Ann Watkins, of Aberdeen, at The O'Neal School; Auden Laurence, of Southern Pines, at Pinecrest High; Ethan Wicker, of Sanford, at Southern Lee High; and Melissa Kathlene Johnson, of Whispering Pines, at Union Pines High.

Each was recently interviewed by the scholarship committee of the PBK Associ-ation.

The interview committee members included Connie Atwell, James Johnson and Alice Robbins.

One of the questions asked all of the candidates during the interviews was, "What do you believe will be the greatest challenges faced by your generation over the next 20 years, and how can intellectual life (education, research and open discussion of ideas) be most effectively used as a tool to help your generation deal with these challenges?"

Jane Barnett, the association scholarship chairman, said that "All awardees answer the questions with incisive responses, and it is always difficult to select the scholarship winner from a group of such outstanding students."

The six candidates received a certificate and a bound volume of "The History of North Carolina."

As a tradition and special tribute to teachers in each high school, the student awardees are asked to select one teacher to receive an outstanding teacher certificate and a monetary award, based upon the teacher's contribution to the students' personal development during their high school years.

Eleanor Brightbill selected Karen Huey; Sable Scott selected Laura Moody; Meagan Watkins selected Farrah Scodius; Auden Laurence chose Libby Carter; Ethan Wicker chose Julie Randolph; and Melissa Johnson chose Robert Hill.

The PBK Association members who attended the six award ceremonies to present the awards to the students and teachers were David Lewis and Karen Walker, of Sanford; Clifton Marley, of Robbins; Alison Chernin, of Sanford; Henry Brown, of Southern Pines; and Dr. Russell McAllister, of Pinehurst.

The Phi Beta Kappa Society, the nation's most widely known and oldest academic honor society, was founded in 1776 to encourage and embrace the principles of freedom of inquiry, the liberty of thought and expression, and to recognize outstanding academic achievement by college undergraduates.

After graduation PBK members may join one of 60 chartered associations throughout the U.S. The associations offer programs to foster friendship, learning and to promote community service, such as providing awards and scholarships.

For information regarding the Central Carolinas Association, Phi Beta, call (910) 215-4574.