The substantial work and exemplary life of David Earl Clark Jr. will be remembered in perpetuity thanks to his employers — Trader Construction Company in New Bern and PotashCorp-Aurora in Aurora. The two companies have partnered to create the David Earl Clark Jr. Endowment at Beaufort County Community College. Each company made a gift of $30,000 to the BCCC Foundation. Once invested for a year, the endowment will be able to provide at least two scholarships, large enough to pay for roughly one year of tuition at BCCC.

“David Clark was an extraordinary person who meant so much to his family, friends and coworkers,” said Steve Beckel, PotashCorp-Aurora general manager. “We are pleased to join with Trader Construction in providing this endowment which we believe is a fitting and lasting tribute to a fine individual.”

In a statement from Lonnie Dow, general manager of Trader Construction, “Trader Construction Company and Potash Corp – Aurora are delighted to establish the David Clark Memorial Scholarship with the Beaufort County Community College Foundation. This endowment will provide scholarship(s) for students enrolled in the heavy equipment and transportation technology/construction equipment associate-degree program.

“The intent of this scholarship is to honor the life of David Clark who died in a tragic accident on March 2, 2011. He will always be remembered and admired as being a hard-working and trustworthy superintendent with more than 30 years of industrial construction experience. David’s leadership, knowledge and dedicated work ethic earned him the respect of Potash Corp-Aurora and Trader Construction Company personnel alike.

“Students receiving this scholarship will have demonstrated honesty, humor, strong learning skills, an aptitude for the construction industry and a dedicated work ethic. All attributes David appreciated in his fellow craftsmen.”

The companies also are providing enough funds to allow the first scholarship to be awarded this fall, rather than wait for the initial gift to be invested for one year.

Clark’s wife, Ann, stated, “It just makes me and the family so proud that PCS and Trader have made this possible. We want David’s name to go on and never be forgotten by anyone. He has left a void in many places. His influence will certainly be missed at the workplace and especially in our hearts.”

Judy Jennette, director of the BCCC Foundation states, “I am truly moved by the generosity of these companies and their desire to memorialize David Clark in such a significant way. This gesture speaks volumes about the character of Mr. Clark.”

“The David Clark Scholarship will be the first of its kind at BCCC,” stated Haywood Broome, lead instructor for the heavy-equipment program at BCCC. “This will be a great recruitment and retention tool for our students in the heavy-equipment program. I cannot thank Trader Construction or PCS Phosphate enough for their tremendous support.”

Jennette adds, “Thanks to the wise investment planning of the Foundation board, this endowment will continue to grow.

Depending on market growth and tuition increases, the endowment may grow to someday provide more than two scholarships annually.”

The David Earl Clark Jr. Endowment is the forty-sixth to be established with the BCCC Foundation. It is the first of the endowments to provide scholarships for students in the heavy equipment program at BCCC. BCCC’s endowment investments now exceed $1.5 million. Once an endowment is invested, 75 percent of its annual earnings are used to provide scholarships (unless the donor specifies some other form of BCCC support) and the remainder of the earnings are reinvested for growth. All but one of foundation’s endowments supports only scholarships.

The first David E. Clark Jr. Scholarship will be awarded in July. Students already enrolled in the heavy equipment and transportation technology/construction equipment associate-degree program will be eligible to apply. Applicants will be required to have a successful track record in the program thus far.