Tribe honors students and Relay participants

The Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina recognized tribal members who excelled in education and fundraising efforts with Relay for Life at the regular business meeting of the Tribal Council on Thursday, June 16.  At the meeting, which was held at Soaring Eagle Community Center on Norment Road in Lumberton, the Tribal Council presented Certificates of Commendation to students who had received the rank of Valedictorian or Salutatorian. 

Also recognized were two Lumbee students, Jacob Cool and Elena Hunt, who received the Gates Millennium Scholars Program scholarship.  The scholarship doesn’t have a monetary value, because it is open ended, but could reach into the hundreds of thousands of dollars as it includes tuition, books, housing, travel and other expenses. 
“I believe it is important to recognize students when they excel” said Tribal Chairwoman Sharon Hunt.  “The Council has been honoring students and their parents several years now, and I feel it is imperative for us to keep this tradition going.”

The following students were honored for the following achievements: Zachary Locklear, Valedictorian, PSHS; Briana Chavis, Solitarian, PSHS; Ashley Paige Hunt, Valedictorian, SCHS, and Donnie McDowell, Valedictorian at DBHS.
The Tribe also recognized other outstanding achievements of other students who had won significant scholarships such as: Brittany Hammonds, Teaching Fellows; Norman Deese, Jerry Long Excellence Scholarship; Megan Maynor for receiving $9,000 in various scholarships; Jacqueline DeJesus for scholarships totaling 63,082; Haley Williams, Teaching Fellows, and Brittany Johnson for $50,000 in scholarships.

“As an educator and Chairwoman of the Education, Culture and PR Committee of the Tribal Council,” says Audrey Hunt, “I know the importance of recognizing youth when they achieve great things like these youth have, and commend the Tribal Council and the Tribal Chair for allowing us to take this opportunity.”

The Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina also honored two volunteers for their efforts with the Robeson County Relay for Life.  Robin Jones, the Chairwoman for the Relay for Life of Robeson County, was honored for her efforts in raising over $300,000, and Cheryl Revels was honored as the top participant for raising $6,314. 

“I commend these two ladies for their efforts to bring awareness,” said Tribal Chairwoman Hunt. “It’s just amazing that they could raise this kind of money in this economy.”

In North Carolina alone, according to the American Cancer Society, there were 45,120 new cases of cancer. Relay for Life began in 1985 when Dr. Gordy Klatt, a colorectal surgeon in Tacoma, Washington, ran and walked around a track for 24 hours to raise money for the American Cancer Society. Since then, it has grown to include more than 3.5 million people in 5,000 communities in the United States.