The Clarkton Lions Club always has been about serving its community.
One of its former presidents, the late Harold Ingram Sr., spent his career dedicated to education, serving as teacher, coach and principal in Clarkton.
When Ingram died in 2014, the civic organization established a $10,000 Bladen Community College Foundation endowment in his memory and also contributes funds yearly for three $1,000 scholarships. The money has helped several Bladen County students cover educational expenses during the past eight years.
The Harold D. Ingram Sr. Endowment is one of the cardinal programs for the club.
“I think you’ve got a very good memorial to someone that meant a lot to the community,” BCC Vice President for Institutional Advancement & Community Relations Sondra Guyton told the group Tuesday night at its bimonthly meeting held inside the Clarkton Fire Department.
“The need is great,” said Guyton (pictured above). “We have students that are one flat tire away from dropping out of school. We need this kind of assistance.”
The Clarkton Lions Club provides funds for the scholarships and endowment, but is not involved in the student selection process. That is handled by the college’s financial aid office. The foundation sees the scholarships honor the criteria set by the endowment, Guyton said.
Guyton reviewed the endowment, funding and scholarships with club members during Tuesday’s meeting. The club agreed to amend the criteria for a student to be eligible to receive a scholarship from being required to live in Bladen County to being preferred to live in Bladen County, but could be from outside the county.
The Clarkton Lions Club meets the second and fourth Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. inside the Clarkton Fire Department. The club welcomes men and women to join.
Click here for information about the Bladen Community College Foundation.
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