Scholarship Donors and Recipients Honored at Luncheon

WILSON, N.C. — Barton College hosted its fourth annual Scholarship Recognition Luncheon on April 10, 2008, to honor the philanthropy of the donors and the hard work of the scholarship recipients.

Barton president Norval Kneten welcomed the guests and called on Peter Harper, recipient of the Disciples Leadership Scholarship, the W. D. Adams Memorial Scholarship, and the Elizabeth Fay Brinson Memorial Scholarship, to deliver the invocaton. Harper is a sophomore from Greenville majoring in religion and philosophy.

Following the buffet lunch, Dr. Kneten introduced twin brothers and 1973 Atlantic Christian/Barton College alumni Robert and William Andrews. Recipients of degrees in Business Administration, the Andrews brothers established the Andrews Scholarship Fund in 1989. This scholarship honors a major in the School of Business who demonstrates scholarship, leadership in club activities, service and contribution to the College community, and interest and future promise in the chosen major.

Co-owners of The Planning Group, Inc. and recently featured in Forbes magazine, the Andrews brothers shared their memories of Barton College. Having lived near the campus as children, they recalled playing on the campus and interacting with campus employees who lived nearby.

William Andrews, crediting his philanthropy to gratitude for Barton, said, “I think I enjoy giving back because I’m so thankful for graduating.”

Addressing Paola Marte, recipient of the Andrews Scholarship, Robert Andrews said, “Thank you, Paola, for who you are today and, more importantly, who you’re going to become.”

Marte, a junior from Wilson majoring in accounting, addressed the audience: “I chose to attend Barton College because I really do value being an individual rather than just an additional number to a large list of students.”

Becoming involved with the Delta Zeta sorority, the Phi Beta Lambda organization, and the Alpha Chi National Honor Society, Marte has enjoyed opportunities to “become a team member as well as a leader.”

Addressing the donors, Marte said, “Because of you, every single student that’s sitting across this room has been given the privilege to explore a new horizon full of knowledge and experiences that will be extremely helpful for our futures.”

Following Marte, the Barton College Gospel Choir performed an a cappella rendition of Our Father, You Are Holy. Then Dr. Kneten introduced the next speaker.

Vice president for enrollment management, Dr. Kelly Thompson extended her gratitude to the donors.

“Thank you to our scholarship donors for your philanthropy. Your gifts are instrumental in providing outstanding students with the Barton experience,” said Thompson.

She praised “our outstanding students who balance academically rigorous majors and participate in a host of co-curricular volunteer activities.” After naming individual examples such as Marte, Will Cobb, and David King, Thompson lauded the entire group of scholarships recipients, saying, “I could go on and on and on about the students in this room individually; but really, collectively, they’re all quite impressive.”

Sophomore Will Cobb, recipient of the C. Manley Morton Scholarship and the Robert L. Dunn, Jr., Family Scholarship, offered his gratitude as well.

“I am thankful for the fact that Barton College has given me the opportunity to become the person that I am today. Barton College is a special place because of donors who selflessly give to help students learn, grow, and lead. This luncheon is as much, if not more, a celebration of the people who graciously donated these scholarships than the students who received them,” said Cobb.

Asking his fellow scholarship recipients to join him in thanking their benefactors, Cobb led them in applause as the students offered a standing ovation in honor of the donors.

To learn more about the many scholarships opportunities available to Barton students, please contact the Office of Financial Aid at 252-399-6323 or by email financialaid@barton.edu.

To endow a scholarship or participate in other giving opportunities at Barton College, please contact Carolyn H. Brown, vice president for institutional advancement, at 252-399-6358. For email correspondence, please address your message to chbrown@barton.edu.

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Questions? Please contact Ken Dozier, web services manager at Barton College, at 252.399.6596 or by email at kdozier@barton.edu.