“Don’t hide,” he said. “Go for it!”

That was the message from Mr. Lyons Gray, Vice Chair and Trustee of the Lettie Pate Whitehead Foundation as he addressed a group of scholarship recipients at Louisburg College on November 15^th.  Mr. Gray encouraged the Whitehead scholars to be assertive on life’s journey.

Since 1971, the Lettie Pate Whitehead Foundation has financially supported southern Christian, female students attending Louisburg College to help them achieve the education of their dreams. 

Joining Mr. Gray was Ms. Carrie Conway, Senior Program Officer of the Lettie Pate Whitehead Foundation.  Ms. Conway shared the history and significance of the life of Lettie Pate Whitehead who, after the early death of her husband, became one of America’s earliest female business executives as CEO of Coca-Cola Bottling Company in the 1930s. 

Louisburg College is one of 36 educational institutions in North Carolina being served by the Foundation. Gray said the Foundation seeks to support underserved students at higher educational institutions where its assistance has a greater impact on their educational journey.

Louisburg College’s scholarship recipients expressed enthusiastic appreciation to the Foundation’s representatives and discussed their educational and career goals, as well as their experiences at Louisburg College.

Many student recipients said they wouldn’t have been able to attend Louisburg College if it wasn’t for the assistance received through the Foundation’s scholarship. And, they said they are making the most of it.

“There are lots of opportunities we have as freshmen and sophomores that students at four-year schools don’t receive,” said sophomore Miya Hargraves who plans to have a career in marketing.

You can read more about Lettie Pate Whitehead’s story at: https://lpwhitehead.org/about-the-foundation/lettie-pate-whitehead/