The Ponzer Ruritan Club, long known for community involvement, generosity to those locally who have sustained losses in house fires, flood, wind damages and other storm-related issues, has once again indicated their commitment to challenge students excelling in scholastics.

Each year, the Ponzer Ruritans reach out to students who are matriculating from high school or continuing their current specific accumulative educational state. Schools in Hyde and eastern Beaufort counties are provided information regarding the scholarship. A Ruritan committee works with the schools’ principals, counselors, teachers and others to receive and review each applicant’s submission. Based not only on grade points, the committee also reviews each student’s involvement in activities in various school programs as well as his participation in local and regional projects — for example, assisting in clean-up after storms, fires and floods and performing other actions to involve themselves in helping to meet community needs.

There were seven applications chosen for consideration in this year’s scholarship awards program for the school year 2017-18; Devin Carawan, of Mattamuskeet Early College High School, who will attend North Carolina State University; Shakera Davis, who attends University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill; Audrey Glass, of Terra Ceia Christian School, who will attend Pitt Community College; Ashley Mooney, of MECHS, who will attend Beaufort County Community College; Jessica Cahoon, of Mattamuskeet, who will attend UNC-Greensboro; Jalen Clayton, of Mattamuskeet, who will attend North Carolina Central University; and Karla Perez, of Ocracoke, who will attend Pitt Community College.

The amount of the scholarships for 2016-17 totaled $3,500, most of which comes from the club’s annual sales of homemade sausage. Sales for this year will begin in November. Please be reminded that all sausage sales are pre-ordered. You are encouraged to contact the club in October to place your order.

Glenn Waters, promotions and publicity