BSA Classic Awards $27,000 in Scholarships
The 21st Annual BSA Classic hosted by CenturyLink awarded $27,000 in college scholarships to 54 high school seniors from across eastern North Carolina. An additional $27,000 was donated to the East Carolina Council, Boy Scouts of America to provide support for over 1,100 youth in the Exploring and Learning for Life programs, which provide in-school character education and career education programs. Funds are raised through an annual golf tournament held at Ironwood Country Club, in Greenville. Corporate Sponsors for the tournament were; Adtran, Alcatel-Lucent, Calix, CenturyLink, Ericsson, Fujitsu, and Better Cable Systems. The tournament chairs were Kevin McCarter from CenturyLink as general chair, Bobby Whitley from CenturyLink as golf tournament chair, and Michael Hesbach, from East Carolina Council as scholarship chair and staff advisor.
A total of 87 high schools, public and private, in the 20 county territory of the East Carolina Council were permitted to select a winner by March 18, and a total of 57 submissions were entered. Students must have attended the banquet to receive funds. Scholarships were awarded at three levels based on academic achievement and leadership in and out of school; 48 students received $450, 5 students received $800, and one student received $1,300. The grand prize winner named was Austin Bath, a senior from J. H. Rose High School in Greenville. Austin is an Eagle Scout, ranked number 18 in his class with a GPA of 4.9643, he served as class president for three years, student body president, was a member of the football team, volunteers at the hospital and more. Austin’s GPA was 5th highest of the 57 nominations, and will be attending NC State on a full scholarship with career aspirations of being an orthopedic surgeon.
For more information about this event or Scouting contact Richard Bogan.