South Central graduate named Robertson scholar

South Central High School Class of 2024 graduate Loreal Thomas has been selected as one of 25 students to be part of the prestigious Robertson Scholars Leadership Program.

At South Central, Thomas served as captain of the varsity cheerleading team, senior class vice president and a member of the National Honor Society and Future Business Leaders of America. She also is a church youth leader

Scholars were selected from 13 states and four continents for the scholarship program, which provides full tuition, room and board. Robertson Scholars receive student privileges at both Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, including opportunities to enroll in courses, pursue additional majors and minors, spend a semester in residence on the other campus, and lead on both campuses.

The program is designed to invest in young leaders who strive to make transformational contributions to society. Students are selected based on demonstrated leadership, including the ability to be curious, act with agency and integrity, and forge collaborative communities.

During their time in the program, students engage in cohort-based leadership development experiences designed to encourage them to lead with curiosity, purpose and a commitment to impacting the lives of others. Scholars also have access to three summer experiences and other grants to fuel self-designed learning and leadership growth.

The Robertson Scholars Leadership Program was created in 2000 by Julian Robertson, a 1955 graduate of UNC, and his wife, Josie. They were inspired by their sons, graduates of Duke and UNC. The Robertson alumni network consists of more than 600 leaders on six continents.

DAR awards

Members of the Susanna Coutanch Evans Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution presented the DAR Youth Leadership medals and certificates to one eighth-grade student in 12 Pitt County schools this month.

The faculty at each school chose a student who best exemplified the qualities of honor, service, courage, leadership, and patriotism. LouAnn Haddock, the chapter’s national defense committee co-chair, coordinated these awards. The winners from each participating school were: Alexandra Gray, A.G. Cox; Leah Fields, Ayden Middle; America Bautista, Bethel; D’kima Perry, C.M. Eppes; Camden Peele, Chicod; Kamora Worsley, E.B. Aycock; Jocelin Sebastian, G.R. Whitfield; Gemma Frawley, Grifton; Allison Kim, Hope Middle; Kennedy Jenkins, Pactolus; Litzel Garcia, Stokes; and Sofia Gutierrez, Wellcome Middle.

The chapter also awarded Junior ROTC Bronze Medals to student cadets at five Pitt County high schools. These medals are awarded to junior or senior cadets who demonstrate loyalty and patriotism and earn a record of military and scholastic achievement during their participation in Junior ROTC.

Area winners were: Makayla Williams, Ayden Grifton; Joshua Ferrell, D.H. Conley; Logan Phelps, North Pitt; Jasmine Smith, J.H. Rose; Dytavis Moore, South Central. Caroline Sconiers, a member of the Civil Air Patrol at J.H. Rose, also was recognized. Maggie Craig chaired the chapter’s National Defense Committee and coordinated the awards process.

PCS Recognitions

The Pitt County Board of Education recognized the following achievements during its meeting on June 3:

Health Occupation Student Association (HOSA) national winners. They included: Ayden-Grifton High School students Addison Hardee and Karleigh Rouse first place for Health Career Display and Abigail Byrum, second place, Health Career Photography; J.H. Rose High School students Andrew Knight Hyatt, Sanjay Tirupattur, Abrahem Ahmad and Mateo Lorenzo, third place, HOSA Bowl, and Katharine Gauland, third place, Health Career Photography.Technology Student Association (TSA) students from Ayden Middle School for their awards at the North Carolina TSA State Conference. They included: Leah Fields, first place, Mass Production and third, Inventions and Innovations and Off the Grid; Josie McAlduff, first place, Mass Production and third, Off the Grid; Tyler Stallings, first place, Digital Photography, Essays on Technology and Medical Technology, second place, Forensic Technology; Gwen Tisckos, first place, Medical Technology, second place, Forensic Technology and third place, Digital Photography; Chloe Williams, first place, Promotional Marketing and third place, Off the Grid; Sophia Woolard, second place, Junior Solar Sprint; Colton Lunde, second place, Junior Solar Sprint and third place, Off the Grid and Mass Production; Sunny Harrington, second place, Junior Solar Sprint, third place, Inventions and Innovations and Mass Production; Faith Rhea, second place, Microcontroller; JT Worrell, third place, Inventions and Innovations, Off the Grid and Mass Production; Alyssa Edwards and Jacob Hannam, third place, Inventions and Innovations; Taylor Bunch and Dalila Castanon-Ramirez, third place, Challenging Technological Issues; and Cameron Wooten, third place, Prepared Speech.Lakeforest Elementary School and C.M. Eppes Middle School for being named STEM Schools of Distinction. With the addition of these two schools, Pitt County Schools now has five of the 41 STEM Schools of Distinction in the state.The Pitt Pirates robotics team for its performance in FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) international competition in Texas in April. Two FTC (First Tech Challenge) teams, PiRates and Pitt Parrots, also were recognized. The teams are comprised of students from throughout Pitt County Schools.