Bertie Alumni Association awards annual scholarships
Published 9:25 am Wednesday, June 12, 2019
The Bertie Alumni Community Association (BACA) has selected three scholarship students as their 2019 recipients. Lydia Bond and Shania Balmer graduated from Bertie High School. Nadeya Gilliam graduated from Bertie Early College.
Bertie Alumni Community Association scholarship winners for 2019 are, from left, Lydia Bond, Shania Balmer and Nadeya Gilliam. Contributed Photo
The students have chosen the perspective colleges to attend this coming fall semester. Bond will be attending UNC-Greensboro College and majoring in biology in hopes of becoming a veterinary doctor. She has already taken a dual classes at Martin Community College and is certified as a medical assistant with transferable credit classes. Balmer will continue her education at Martin Community College she was also a dual student and is already certified as a nursing assistant from Roanoke-Chowan Community College. Her future goal is to pursue her associates’ degree to become a medical assistant. Gilliam is attending Fayetteville State University. She has a strong interest in government and being an entrepreneur. She also wants to start a private family foundation one day for kids like her who lost their parent(s) at an early age. She will be majoring in business.
BACA officials offer thanks to everyone who assisted or donated to their 2018-2019 scholarship goals and fundraiser events. BACA looks forward to working on their 2019-2020 goals for their nonprofit organization to continue supporting education and community needs.
BACA has plans to host the upcoming 50th anniversary of fifty graduating classes from Bertie High School since the integration in 1969 to 2019. Festivities will take place on the weekend of Bertie homecoming on Saturday, October 19-20, 2019. There will be an alumni homecoming 50th anniversary parade in downtown Windsor. Music, food and clothing vendors will follow immediately after the parade at Livermon Park. Following is an alumni homecoming dinner banquet with alumni, retired teachers and guests.
BACA is seeking volunteers to work on the 50th anniversary events. If anyone is interested they can contact BACA Board members in the Windsor area: Frank Mitchell, Mashawnda Razor, Rickey Freeman, Alicia Small, and Jesse Allen; Lewiston area: Alice Lyons and Carla Peterson; Ahoskie area: Charles Johnson, and all other areas in state or out of state can call 919-452-1981.