Rotary Club Donates $17,000 to NCC Foundation
Kanovis Bullock
Nash Community College students will benefit from $17,000 in scholarships awarded by the Rocky Mount Rotary Club from proceeds raised through the 2020 Tackle the Tar. The event originally planned for May 16, 2020 was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Being new to the community, I am truly overwhelmed by the impact of Tackle the Tar and also the commitment to education in this area,” NCC President Lew Hunnicutt said. “The annual event is a testament to the teamwork, passion and spirit that exist in the Twin Counties.”
Nash Community College students have benefited from a total of $95,000 in scholarships since Tackle the Tar began. The event also supports students attending Edgecombe Community College and North Carolina Wesleyan College.
“I grew up in West End Terrace projects where many did not believe I would see the age of 21 because of how violent the community was,” Kanovis Bullock, Nash Community College’s 2020 Rocky Mount Rotary Open Door Scholars recipient, said. “I started school at Nash Community College, and that is where my new journey began. Since being here, I have received scholarships and made the Dean’s List. Now I am enrolled in the Associate Degree Nursing program where I am studying to be a Registered Nurse.”
A first-generation college student, Kanovis plans to stay and work in Nash County. He said he hopes to be in a position one day to give back to others through scholarships just like community members have given to him. “Thank you for caring. Thank you for giving. Thank you for believing in a community where many are losing hope,” he said.
Nash Community College proudly named the Rocky Mount Rotary Open Door Scholars Program in 2016 because of the generosity of donors through Tackle the Tar. The scholarship serves as a reminder that the community stands behind education as the college provides educational opportunities for NCC students to acquire the skills needed to prepare for successful careers.
“On behalf of our students, thank you to the sponsors, runners and volunteers who make Tackle the Tar such a great success,” Hunnicutt said. Many students have been supported in their educational endeavors at NCC through these scholarships. And many of these students will go on to serve us all in various capacities improving the overall quality of life for this region.
