civitan_scholarship_winners.jpg
L to R, Front Row: Haney and White.
Back Row: Rayburn, Williams, Simpson, Wagner, and Devlin.

by Johnnie Grant

A formal banquet was held recently by the Asheville Civitan Club at Trinity Episcopal Church in Asheville to honor seven deserving local high school students who have demonstrated civic responsibility and involvement in their communities.

The “Builders of Good Citizenship” scholarship recipients were:

A. Wagner a student from Roberson High School, who will be attending Appalachian State. H. Williams, from Reynolds High School, recognized for her mentoring of younger students, will be attending UNC-Charlotte. M. Haney, a student from Owen High School, is a dedicated volunteer with the Future Farmers of America and the Blue Ridge Animal Hospital who hopes to become a veterinarian. T. Simpson is from North Buncombe High School, and a gold medal award winner in art. Simpson volunteers with Habitat for Humanity and will be attending North Carolina State to study architecture. C. Rayburn, who has maintained a 4.8 grade average at Erwin High School, is an “audio/visual wizard.” She is a licensed lifeguard, and a member of the school golf team; she will attend Clemson University in the fall. S. Devlin is a volunteer extraordinaire. She has given over 800 hours to Mission Hospitals during her high school years. She will attend Catawba College and plans to study optometry. T. White modestly did not want her accomplishments recited, but in her remarks made it clear that she is determined to succeed in life. She will attend Gardner-Webb University.

Civitan Scholarship Chair Keith Thomson applauded the parents and educators, all of whom, he said, should be congratulated for their good job in support of the students. He ended his remarks by saying, “Those being honored today will inspire those to come – they are, after all, our hope for the future.”

The Asheville Civitan Club is a membership organization established in 1921 whose aim is to develop, maintain, and promote the highest standards of conscience and civic cooperation, and contribute to the well-being of communities throughout Buncombe County. To encourage principles and practice of good citizenship, for many years the Asheville Civitan Club has awarded scholarship grants to seniors graduating from public high schools in Asheville and Buncombe County.