The $2,000-a-year scholarships, renewable annually, are for the four-year undergraduate careers of the quartet who are scheduled to graduate from the three schools this month.
In announcing the selections, the TWERF Board of Trustees said the scholarship went to:
Evan M. Fitzgerald of Southern Pines, son of Ellen E. Dickey and Edward F. Fitzgerald, senior class president at O’Neal who plans to study business and politics at Washington and Lee University, Lexington, Va.
Evan M. Fitzgerald won the Helen Pringle Holmberg Scholarship based on academics, athletics, leadership and character, which gave him a full scholarship for four years at O’Neal. He was a Morehead nominee, class president his sophomore and senior years, captain of the varsity swim team his last three years, and was a Sunday school teacher.
Taylor L. Handsel of Vass, 10th ranking student in Union Pines’ 208-member class and son of M.L. and Joanne Handsel, who has set his sights on the criminal justice and psychology fields at the University of North Carolina, Wilmington.
Taylor Handsel was president of the Key Club in his senior year at Union Pines where he also was on the golf senior year at Union Pines where he also was on the golf and track teams. He was a Renaissance Gold Card member all four years in high school, and honor received for maintaining a 4.0 GPA, and was active in a variety of organizations including SADD, Habitat For Humanity, and Adopt-A-Highway.
Mary Catherine Patman of Pinehurst, the fourth-ranking student at Union Pines who is the daughter of William L. Patman Jr. and Sara H. Williams, will attend the University of North Carolina, Wilmington, to study marine biology.
Mary Patman was invited to join the National Society of High School Scholars, placed in the regional science fair her junior year, played varsity golf three years and soccer all four years, was president of the National Art Honor Society and was co-founder of the Union Pines chapter of Future Problem Solvers of America. She also was active in her church youth group and the Surfrider Foundation for coastal preservation.
Johanna S. Sangiuliano of Pinehurst, daughter of Gene N. and Marion Sangiuliano and fourth-ranking student in Pinecrest’s 342-member class, who plans to study international business at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
Johanna Sangiuliano attended the Governor’s School, was on the Pinecrest varsity track team, a cheerleader, Key Club officer, member of the National Honor Society, Senior Class reporter, was a volunteer for the local animal shelter, Habitat For Humanity, Boys and Girls Club, and FirstHealth.
The four scholarships bring to 71 the number awarded by TWERF since the program was launched in 1978 with their total value set at $488,450. A. Parker Hall Jr., TWERF chairman, is scheduled to make the awards at special awards day ceremonies at the three schools involved.
The scholarship program, which receives the bulk of its support from Tin Whistles members, is recognized as one of the best in Moore County.
While the TWERF board approved the four latest scholarships, four others completed their college careers with the help of stipends the organization awarded in 2000. These graduates are Crystal Cockman, Duke; Johanna Edens and Vanessa Handsel, both UNC, Chapel Hill; and James E. Johns, University of Virginia.
