On Friday, July 14, 2017, in the presence of over 350 people attending a banquet, the Law Office of D. Cole Phelps Scholarship Foundation presented scholarships valued at $750.00 each to eight (8) deserving high school graduates from Martin, Tyrrell, and Washington Counties.

Darrell Andrews, Andrew Council, Kellie Luton, Kayleigh Olecki, Keila Rawls, Teyonna Saunders, Jacob Smith, and Amy Ward were honored in the ceremony at Plymouth Church of Christ.

Notable North Carolina officials offered their greetings and encouragement at the banquet.

“Some people would say these young people are lucky. I would tell you that I do not believe in luck. I don’t hope for luck. What folks call as luck is when preparation meets opportunity,” said North Carolina State Auditor Beth Wood.

Congressman G.K. Butterfield, and Jean-Pierre “J.P.” Tokoto offered special presentations of encouragement via video screen.

Lazarus Barrow, Melanie Burnett, and Daneya Rouson offered their reflections as past scholarship recipients.

Burnett, a second-semester sophomore at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, said she learned many lessons in college.

“The first lesson was that for me to grow, I had to change. By you going off into the real world, there will always be someone that will be a little bit better than you in the class. Or they will have a different mindset than you. It is your choice on how you deal with it. You can either let that put you down. Or you can let that be your motivation to keep pushing towards your dreams and aspirations,” said Burnett.

Burnett’s second lesson learned was to remain focused and true to herself.

“There will be many things that distract you from your goals. There will be also be people that will try to break your spirit and take you out of your character. I have learned that there will be always be people in your pathway that are praying for you and will uplift you,” said Burnett.

Attorney Joey Jackson, CNN and HLN Legal Analyst offered the keynote address.

Jackson mentioned the “multiple P’s” in his speech.

“As you go through life, there are a number of things are expected of you. The first is performance. To our young people out there who are looking to build careers and go to college, the first thing it starts with is showing up. It starts with performing. It starts with being the best version of yourself that you possibly can be,” said Jackson.

Jackson mentioned that life is about recognizing the possibilities as well.

“It is about possibilities and knowing and understanding that you can overcome any adversity that you are possibly faced with. There is a possibility in every single thing,” said Jackson.

Persistence is also important in college.

“You are measured not by the fact that you trip, or that you fall and stumble. You are measured by the fact that you have the ability to get up and keep moving. It is about being measured not by the setback, but by being evaluated by the comeback,” said Jackson.

Phelps led the banquet in the recognition of special guests, and sponsors. He also presided over the introduction of the keynote speaker, and offered closing remarks.