BY DONNA SWICEGOOD

Five local students joined 10 others in receiving scholarships from proceeds from last year’s Iredell County Agricultural Fair.

The Statesville Kiwanis Club presented a total of 15 $2,000 scholarships to local students. Ten of those students attended the June meeting and were presented with checks.

Recently, the club presented the remaining five to the students who could not attend the June meeting.

“We are pleased they could be here,” scholarship committee chair Joe Stephens said.

Those receiving the scholarships in July were:

♦ James Maxwell Johnson, a graduate of South Iredell High School, who will be attending North Carolina State University;
♦  Freeman Rhyne Wallace, a graduate of West Iredell High School, who is set to attend Bluefield State University;
♦ Sadie Caroline Little, a graduate of West Iredell High School, who plans to attend Mitchell Community College;
♦ Arden Brooke Clouse, a graduate of Agriculture and Science Early College, who will attend Appalachian State University; and
♦  Ashyln Elaine Gilbert, a graduate of Agriculture and Science Early College, who is planning to attend the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.

The Kiwanis Club is the sponsor of the Iredell County Agricultural Fair, which is the club’s main fundraiser for the year.

“These scholarship funds come from the net proceeds of the fair,” President Chuck Gallyon explained to the students and their family members at the club’s meeting.

Thanks to near-perfect weather in 2024, the fair netted more money than in recent years, allowing the club to give $30,000 in scholarships.

Gallyon said the Kiwanis Club puts on the fair with a small number of members and volunteers, and he encouraged those attending the meeting to consider joining.

“We’re looking for folks to join the club. We’d love to have y’all help us help the community,” he said.

As several of the students expressed their appreciation for the scholarship funds, Gallyon wished them good luck. “We are so very proud of you,” he said.

Students who were recognized in June were:

♦ Derell Kashon Scott, Statesville High School, Western Carolina University;
♦ Peyton LeeAnn Johnson, South Iredell High School, University of North Carolina at Greensboro;
♦ Erica Faith Cook, South Iredell High School, Liberty University;
♦ Brett Matthew Harrison, South Iredell High School, Belmont University;
♦ Wyatt Glenn Weddington, South Iredell High School, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill;
♦ Christopher Joshua Corona-Plancarte, North Iredell High School, Cornell University;
♦ Erica Sally-Theresa Bullard, North Iredell High School, Western Carolina University;
♦ Kaydence Nicole Gibson, North Iredell High School, Wingate University;
♦ Samuel Luke Privette, CCTL, North Carolina State University; and
♦ Christopher Michael Morini, CCTL, Appalachian State University.