Foundation: New Tynch scholarship now an endowed award

A brand new college scholarship named for a former Perquimans County Schools employee and awarded earlier this year for the first time, is now an endowed scholarship.

The Perquimans County Schools Foundation recently established the Aubrey Dean Tynch (Trade School or Electrician) Scholarship Endowment, thanks to donations of $11,000.

An endowed scholarship is awarded in perpetuity because the principal of the original gift is kept intact, and only the interest is awarded for scholarships, the PCSF said in a press release. The principal is then invested and allowed to grow in value over time, so that the scholarship can continue to be awarded.

The Tynch Scholarship is named for the late Aubrey Dean Tynch, an electrician with the Perquimans County Schools for eight years who also operated his own electrical business until his death in January 2022.

Prior to his work for the school district, Tynch was employed by Vidant Health (now ECU Health) for 36 years. Prior to his retirement from Vidant, Tynch worked as director of maintenance at Vidant Chowan Hospital (now ECU Health Chowan Hospital) in Edenton.

Tynch also served on the board of directors for Albemarle Electric Membership Corp. Prior to his appointment to the AEMC board, he served as a volunteer for several years on the electric co-op’s Albemarle Community Trust, which awards grants to local organizations that benefit the community.

The Tynch Scholarship was established by Tynch's family and awarded for the first time this year to Perquimans County High School graduating seniors Troy Sutton and Waylon Davenport, both of whom received a $1,000 award from the Tynch family.

According to the PCSF, the Aubrey Dean Tynch (Trade School or Electrician) Scholarship is designed to "positively impact students" from Perquimans High School who graduate and go on to study at either a two-year college, trade or technical school, specifically in a trade as an electrician.

"Mr. Aubrey was a master electrician, demonstrating the highest level of skills in mathematics, problem-solving, working with others, time management, honesty and patience," the release states. "His life-long work as an electrician, and his ability to be a great role model for young and old, earned him paramount respect in the northeast area."

The PCSF will manage the Tynch Scholarship Endowment.