The city’s Benevolent Awards and Recognition Committee Tuesday recognized the recipients of its annual scholarship awards.
Cora Meredith Gordon and Elias Lasky were awarded the scholarships this year.
Gordon is the daughter of Jeremy Gordon and Christina Wells and the stepdaughter of Bruce Wells, a city firefighter. Mr. Gordon is the garage supervisor in the public works department.
Cora is a 2019 graduate of Roanoke Rapids High School and completed her high school requirements a year early, said Kathy Kearney, the city’s human resources manager. She earned her certified nursing assistant certification while still in high school.
She has worked several part-time jobs and took pre-nursing courses at Halifax Community College.
“By working several part-time jobs and attending school, Cora said that she has learned to be responsible and pay attention,” Kearney said.
She continues to take classes at HCC and works at Hampton Manor.
She plans on transferring in the fall from HCC to Wake Technical College to enroll in the school’s nursing program. Her goal is to obtain an associates degree and become a registered nurse.
“Cora is a once-in-a-lifetime student that all teachers dream of having because she shows up, works hard, has a great attitude, respects those around her and always goes the extra mile,” Kearney, quoting one of Cora’s teachers, said.
Said Cora in a statement prepared for Tuesday night’s council agenda, “If I receive this scholarship from BARC I would be very proud that I have been able to contribute to my college expenses and help my parents.”
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Lasky, the son of planning and development Director Kelly Lasky and Dave Lasky, was not present for the scholarship announcement due to work commitments.
He is a 2019 graduate of RRHS and has been involved in band and theater and participated in several plays.
He serves as a summer camp counselor at 4-H Rural Life Center in Halifax and helps plan and implement many of the programs.
He plans on attending HCC to take prerequisite courses before transferring to a major university. He plans to earn a master’s degree or doctorate in the field of astrophysics.
“Elias is extremely dependable and has the utmost integrity and possesses a level of maturity beyond his years,” was the quote from one of his teachers, which was ready by Kearney.
“I want very badly to one day be able to contribute to the world through my work in astrophysics and this scholarship would help me kickstart that burning desire,” his statement said.
