The 2023 recipients of the Trooper Kevin Conner Spirit of Community and Leadership scholarships for Bladen and Columbus Counties have been announced. These grants are in the amount of $5,000 each. A committee evaluated scholarship applications in a preliminary round in which no names were revealed. Three applicants from both Bladen and Columbus Counties with the highest preliminary scores were subsequently invited to participate in an interview with the scholarship committee.
The Columbus County recipient is Andrew Caines. Andrew is a 2023 graduate of East Columbus High School where he was a member of FFA, National Honors Society, Beta Club, and golf team. He was in the top 10 percent of his class, an Eagle Scout, and owns his own auto detailing/landscaping/pressure washing business. He plans to attend East Carolina University in the fall to major in Biology with hopes of becoming an orthodontist.
The Bladen County recipient is Luke Thomas Barber. Luke is a recent graduate of East Bladen High School where he was named valedictorian. He is also a recent graduate of Bladen Community College, a 4-H Honor Club inductee, member of the FFA, Senior Beta Club, and National Technical Honor Society. He plans to attend N.C. State University in the fall to pursue a degree in Poultry Science.
Other scholarship finalists were also announced. Addie Bailey and Laiken Edwards are graduates of Whiteville High School, and both girls plan to attend N.C. State University. Catherine Dowless is a graduate of West Bladen High School and is headed to Methodist University in the fall. Emily Miranda Young is also a graduate of West Bladen High School, and she will attend U.N.C. Pembroke.
The Trooper Kevin Conner Blue Line Legacy Scholarships in the amount of $1,500 each were also handed out to two students. Connor Chinnici is a graduate of Western Alamance High School and plans to attend U.N.C Chapel Hill to major in Biology. Emilie Councilman is the second recipient of the grant. She is a recent graduate of South Granville High School. She plans to pursue a degree in Nursing at Vance-Granville Community College.
The Trooper Kevin Conner Spirit of Community and Leadership Scholarship and the Trooper Kevin Conner Blue Line Legacy Scholarship are handed out annually to students in both Columbus and Bladen counties. The kids must be a high school senior from the Whiteville City School district, the Columbus County School district, the Columbus Christian Academy, or the Bladen County School district in order to receive the community and leadership grant. The Blue Line Legacy Scholarship is awarded to two applicants each year. Recipients must be a high school senior in this state and must be a dependent son or daughter of a current, full-time, or commissioned law enforcement officer for N.C. Other criteria for the grants are listed on the foundation’s website.
If you would like to know more about the scholarships, visit the foundation’s website at www.kevinconnermemorial.org.
