Henderson scholarships presented
By Bonnie Edwards
Published in News on June 17, 2005 1:45 PM
MOUNT OLIVE -- The Mount Olive Rotary Club honored three of the five Henderson Scholarship recipients Thursday night at the Southern Belle Restaurant.
The club recognizes the five Southern Wayne High School graduates who receive the scholarships each year. This year's recipients are Teaerica Ingram, Raymond Creek, April Langston, Timothy McArthur and Jamie Niemond, who received a total of $5,300.
The scholarships were established by Dr. C.C. Henderson.
Rotary President Charles Brown described Henderson as a colorful figure in the history of Mount Olive, a physician who was said to have delivered more babies than anybody else in the area in his day.
He described the doctor's sense of humor by telling a story about one day when the doctor got a speeding ticket from a highway patrolman on his way to Seven Springs to deliver a baby. The doctor told the trooper he might as well give him two tickets, "because I'm coming back this way, too."
"He obviously made an impact on everybody he came in contact with," Brown said.
Education was the doctor's passion, Brown added.
Henderson, who died in 1963, was a major benefactor of Mount Olive College and a trustee. He offered his services as a physician at the college at no charge, and gave the college its first financial gift. The first major building erected on the main campus in Mount Olive was the Henderson building, named in his honor.
The scholarships originally went to one Mount Olive High School student each year. Since the closing of that school, however, the awards have gone to graduates of Southern Wayne. There are five recipients now rather than one, and they are chosen by the Mount Olive Middle School principal and a committee of parents.
Mount Olive Middle School Principal Cathy Eubanks introduced the three recipients who attended the meeting, Miss Ingram, Creek and Miss Langston.
Miss Ingram is the daughter of Anita and Joseph Ingram. She plans to attend James Sprunt Community College. She will receive $1,000.
Creek plans to attend Campbell University and major in art. His scholarship is for $1,500.
Miss Langston is the daughter of Carl and Cathy Langston. She plans to attend Wayne Community College and Lenoir Community College. She hopes to become a surgical technician. She will receive $1,000.
Timothy McArthur's scholarship is for $1,500. He is the son of Kimberly McArthur and the late Henry McArthur. Jamie Niemond's scholarship is for $1,500. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Doug Niemond.