Students attending Beaufort County Community College and receiving aid through the BCCC Foundation had a chance to dine with their benefactors April 25. The annual Legacy Luncheon brings together future accountants, auto mechanics, business owners, electrical engineers, nurses and teachers, along with the scholarship donors, many of whom are established in those fields.

This year, many of the luncheon’s speakers were connected to the nursing program, including: Kent Dickerson, who serves as the director of the nursing at BCCC; Pamela Bowen, a current nursing student; and Brenda Van Gyzen, a 1969 graduate of the licensed nurse practitioner program at BCCC. Van Gyzen is part of a multi-generational BCCC family, with her son Bryan Van Gyzen teaching automotive technology at the college, and her grandson Jacob Van Gyzen attending the Beaufort County Early College High School. Criminal justice student Marcel Bowser also spoke at the luncheon.

The BCCC Foundation is a nonprofit charitable organization established in 1984 to provide community-based support for the college in achieving its educational and workforce development goals. Through the foundation, generous donors provide support for scholarships, institutional programs, faculty and staff development and facility improvements.

New scholarships become available as community members work with the foundation to provide new opportunities. Amy and Paul Sassnett set up the Reid Sassnett Endowment for students who demonstrate financial need and are enrolled in agricultural or fire and rescue programs or supporting courses. Amy Sassnett also serves on the BCCC Board of Trustees.

The scholarship was established in 2016 in memory of their son Reid Sassnett. He was a junior firefighter with the Pinetown Volunteer Fire Department and a sophomore at Pungo Christian Academy. The Reid Sassnett Scholarship went to Zindi Rochin-Garcia, who currently works at Care-O-World and plans to receive paramedic training.

Activities of the foundation are overseen by a 24-member board of directors comprised of civic and business leaders from BCCC’s four-county service area. The BCCC Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization and all contributions are tax deductible. The Legacy Luncheon was sponsored for the fifth year in a row by Rod Cantrell, financial advisor at Edward Jones. The foundation has provided educational opportunities this year to 137 deserving BCCC students by awarding more than $86,000 in scholarships. The foundation recently held a garden tour to raise money for scholarships.

For additional information about contributing to the BCCC Foundation or applying for scholarships, contact Executive Director Serena Sullivan at 252-940-6326 or serena.sullivan@beaufortccc.edu.