The Residents Association of Carolina Meadows Retirement Community has annually provided five $500 scholarships for employees to continue their education. This year the association received more applications from well-qualified employees than the budget covered. When news of this got out into the community numerous residents came forward with private donations totaling $4,500, making it possible to award scholarships to a total of 14 employees with widely divergent backgrounds and ambitions.

   This years scholarship recipients are:

   Diana Cox of Chapel Hill, who has been a part-time member of the Wait Staff at Club Center for almost two years. She plans to enter UNC-Asheville next year and to major in Business.

   Kristen Dilettoso of Chapel Hill, for the past three years a part time worker on the wait staff in Dining Services. She attended Durham Tech for one year and is now a student at Meredith College, preparing for a possible career in nursing.

   Joseph Edney of Chapel Hill, a senior at Chapel Hill High School, usually begins his day with 5 am practice with the Bouncing Bulldogs, a team of rope jumpers who competed in national championships in Florida last summer. He is a part-time waiter and a trainer of other staffers in Dining Services three days a week after high school class hours. Joe plans to enter NC State in the fall and take a degree in Business.

   Michelle Johnson of Carrboro is a full-time Specialist in the CATER program (Creative Alternative to Enhance Recreation) in the Activities department of Carolina Meadows. With past experience as a teacher and as a social worker, she works in the Health Center with memory-impaired residents. She plans to attend Durham Tech Community College to further her education and personal growth.

   Heather Upchurch of Chapel Hill, who has been at Carolina Meadows for three and a half years, is now a Marketing Assistant. Heather plans to attend Wake Technical Community College and apply her considerable musical talents to the study of geriatric music therapy. She would like eventually to be a music therapist in the Health Center.

   Franklin Sesay of Durham arrived in the U.S. from the West African Republic of Sierra Leone in 1992, and has been a full time employee as a Certified Nursing Assistant in the Health Center for the past two years. He plans to continue his studies in the field of nursing (LPN) at Durham Technical Community College.

   Jeri Bacote of Siler City. Now on the Wait Staff of the Fairways Jeri won the appreciation of Fairways residents for the special attention she gives to the needs of individuals. She plans to attend Central Carolina Community College and to aim for a career as nurse.

   Sabrina Smith of Pittsboro has been with Carolina Meadows for seven years and is a part-time employee, a member of the Senior Wait Staff and a trainer for other staff members. Since arriving at Carolina Meadows she has completed high school and matriculated at Central Carolina Community College; she plans to continue at a four-year university toward a career as a radiologist.

   Brandi Stratton of Pittsboro has worked part-time on the Wait Staff for two years. A graduate of Northwood High School, she attends Central Community College and plans to attend UNC-Greensboro to pursue a degree in geriatric or pediatric nursing.

   Crystal Carrington of Apex. Crystal joined the wait staff at Carolina Meadows in 2003 after her junior year at UNC-CH where she is studying for a BS degree in biology; she plans to attend medical school. She volunteers at UNC Children’s Hospital and is a member of SHOUT, which offers medical insurance to children of Orange County.

   Joseph Kasamba of Cary is a Certified Nursing Assistant in the Health Center, where he has worked for more than a year. In the view of his supervisor, he has shown a remarkable dedication to the residents he cares for at the Health Center. He plans to attend Durham Technical Community College. He says, ”I would like to widen my knowledge concerning patient care.” He hopes to qualify as an LPN (for Licensed Practical Nurse).

   Fred Odibo, a full-time Nursing Assistant in the Health Center, where he has worked for five years. In the opinion of his supervisors, Fred is always ready to go the extra mile to help out in emergencies. Before nursing, Fred was a student of computer programming, and he intends to return to that field, taking courses at Durham Technical Community College.

   Saul Opukah, a full-time nursing assistant in the Health Center where he has worked for almost two years. Originally a computer science major, he plans to study at Durham Technical Community College and to make a career in nursing.

   Katie Weardon of Raleigh is a fulltime line cook with Dining Services in the Club Center. In her three and a half years at Carolina Meadows, she has advanced from the wait staff to the culinary team. She is a zoology major at NC State and hopes to complete her degree in zoology with a minor in toxicology.

   Contact:
   Michelle Westrom
   Marketing Director
   (919) 370 - 7160