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Scholarships Change Lives
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Cumberland Community Foundation announced $1,042,300 in new and renewed scholarships at its annual scholarship reception on May 20, 2026. Students, family members, scholarship committee volunteers, and donors attended the annual event held at Cape Fear Botanical Garden. Gail Riddle, CCF board chair (2023 – 2025), presided over the ceremony. Judge Beth Keever and Vera Bell presented awards ranging between $1,000 and $10,000 per year.
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Vera Bell, Chair of the Robert H. Scholars Committee
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Beth Keever, Chair of the Community Scholarship Committee
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|  | Lauren Elizabeth Ruppe is the recipient of the Dr. Edwin B. Martin Scholarship, created in memory of Dr. Eddie Martin to benefit a student from Terry Sanford High School, without regard to need, who has excelled academically, lettered in any sport on a varsity level for two years, and will attend North Carolina State University.
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Janie Chavis-Lucas (green jacket) congratulates Gianni Isabella Barber, recipient of the Janie Chavis-Lucas Scholarship, an endowment created by Mrs. Chavis-Lucas in 2006 and later endowed by her family on her 90th birthday. Joining the celebration are Gianni’s mother (L) and Wynella Myers (R), CCF Scholarship Committee Member. Miss Barber also received The Kiwanis Club of Cape Fear Scholarship and the E. E. Miller Scholarship.
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Donna Lopes congratulates Nicholas Maynard Serbio, recipient of the Frank R. Lopes, Sr. Memorial Scholarship. Donna and Ricky Lopes created the scholarship endowment for graduating seniors at Cape Fear High School in memory of Ricky’s father, who was involved with the baseball program at CFHS.
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Kimmi Nettles (R), Scholarship Program Manager, proudly looks on as Makaila Renee Evans receives the John Thomas Gibson Scholarship. This endowment was created to keep John Thomas Gibson's memory alive by supporting students graduating from E.E. Smith High School and attending North Carolina A&T State University, both his treasured alma maters.
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Ian Ara Kim is the recipient of the Ella Smith Downing Charitable Scholarship, created to benefit students from Cumberland, Robeson, Bladen, or Hoke Counties who will attend Methodist University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, or Duke University. Mrs. Downing’s attorney, the late Duane Gilliam, Sr., referred Mrs. Downing to the community foundation to create this lasting legacy through her will. Mr. Kim is also the recipient of the Organization of Korean-American Women of NC Scholarship.
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Over 225 scholarship donors, selection volunteers, students, and families gathered to celebrate at the botanical garden.
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View a complete list of 2026 scholarship awards on our website. Click here.
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Scholarship Committee Volunteers Make It Possible
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This academic year, Cumberland Community Foundation received a record number of scholarship applications. Volunteers from the community read the applications and select the best match to the donor’s intent. Thank you to these hard-working volunteers who read hundreds of applications:
Ray Baker, Reshma Beal, Gale Bell, Vera Bell, Jerial Bogan, Jonathan Breitzer, Muriel Brooks, Mary Kate Burke, Billy Buckner, Cheryl Burns, Shirley Burt-Chrishon, Janice Carnahan, Christopher Chisholm, Donna Cooper-Craig, Rene Corders, Carolyn Dawson, Glenda Dowdy, Karen Felton, Jane Fields, Susie Godwin, Jennifer Hammond, Elaine Bryant Hayes, Betsy Hubbard, Jana Humphrey, A. Elizabeth Keever, Shirley Konneker, Cindy Leeks, Frank R. Lopes, Jr., April Mata, Derrick McArthur, Antione McGill, Mattie McLaurin, Cassandra McMillion, Sharon McNair, Sandy Monroe, Gloria Moore-Carter, Wynella Myers, Virginia Oliver, Cathy Ory, LaVern OxenDine, Zach Pritchett, Barbara Richardson, Gail Riddle, Nicole Ryan, Courtney Samuelson, Wilhelmena Sapp, Victor Sharpe, Melissa Smith, V. Lee Spruill, Marcia Stryker, Tim Yardley
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New Scholarship in Memory of Stacey Park Milbern
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Joel and Jean Milbern, parents of Stacey Park Milbern, with Maddie Kellogg at CCF following the establishment of the Stacey Park Milbern Disability Justice Scholarship.
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The Stacey Park Milbern Disability Justice Scholarship was recently established at Cumberland Community Foundation by Stacey’s family to honor her life and legacy. A nationally recognized disability justice activist, writer, and advocate, Stacey worked to create a more inclusive and equitable world for people with disabilities. The scholarship will support Cumberland County students with disabilities as they pursue higher education and opportunities for the future. Through this fund, Stacey’s impact will continue to inspire and empower generations to come.
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Retired Educator Tom Hatch Presents to CCF Board
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Board member Jerial Bogan greets Tom Hatch. She was his PTA chair at Reid Ross Classical Middle School when her daughter attended and he was the principal.
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Tom Hatch, retired educator and advocate for quality public education, presented to Cumberland Community Foundation's board of directors at its May meeting. He reflected on the state of education, funding challenges, and proven practices for increasing graduation rates.
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Help Send Kids to Summer Camp Through CCF’s Summertime Kids
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The weather is heating up! It is almost time to send over 1,000 local kids to summer camp! Click the video below to see how we have been doing it with your help since 1992 through our Summertime Kids program.
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Upcoming Grant Opportunities
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CCF's next grant cycle will run July 1–31, supporting projects in the arts, children, and education. Prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to attend a Grantseeker Information Session to better understand eligibility and application requirements. Registration is required and can be completed HERE.
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