Scott Berkeley chapter of AFA honored for efforts to help youth
By News-Argus Staff
Published in News on September 3, 2006 2:00 AM
The Scott Berkeley Chapter of the Air Force Association received an Aerospace Education Council Award for Sustained Performance for Aerospace Education from the national organization for its commitment to helping young people obtain an education.
The chapter was one of 33 to receive the award out of 228 competing.
This is the second year the award has been given. In order to qualify, a chapter must participate in at least one outreach program, the chapter Teacher of the Year program, and in at least one aerospace education program.
This is the first year the Scott Berekely Chapter has been honored with the award.
Dr. George Silver, president of the chapter's educational foundation, said chapter members are proud of their involvement in helping outstanding young people with their educations. But he said the recognition from the national organization was welcome.
"It's your peers," Silver said. "When you get people with no vested interest in you saying you are doing a good job, it's kind of a pat on the back."
The chapter is named after former Goldsboro Mayor Scott Berkeley, who was instrumental in the location of Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in Wayne County.
The Scott Berkeley Chapter, recognized as one of the top AFA chapters in North Carolina, has sponsored scholarships for outstanding students of enlisted airmen for years. It also sponsored more than a dozen 5th-grade students to attend the Star Base program for gifted students in science and math.
The chapter gave away $6,000 in scholarships this year, said Silver, chairman of the chapter's scholarship committee. All money donated to the chapter goes directly to students, Silver said. Among those receiving help this year from the chapter are students at East Carolina University, North Carolina State University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Silver described the recipients as "motivated, talented, exceptional," young people.
The chapter has been donating to help students for years but formed a foundation in 2000 to channel those efforts more effectively. By creating the foundation, donations to the scholarship fund are tax deductible, Silver pointed out.
For information about how to contribute to the chapter's educational foundation, call Silver at 751-2821.