Start your engines! It was a fast paced track breaking record when the engines were started for the Davie Community Foundation’s third annual Scholarship Dinner, Tuesday May 13, 2008 at Bethlehem United Methodist Church. When the checkered flag was waved at the end of the evening, forty-seven scholarships were awarded to thirty eight young residents of Davie County. Each year, the Foundation selects a theme for the evening. This year’s theme was Race to Your Future.
Scholarship recipients, their families, and guests who attended the event and were treated to a concession stand dinner of BBQ, chicken wings, beans slaw and ice cream sundaes all served by the Foundation’s Pit Crew of board members. Everyone received a Davie Community Foundation baseball cap and scholarship recipients were given a small 2008 race car ornament along with their award. The room was decorated to look like a track with black and white checkered and multi colored pennants hanging throughout the room, a pit stop for fueling up with dinner, coolants to refresh, and popcorn concessions to greet the guests. Even a race soundtrack played in the background.
Former Davie High School graduate, Jason Stockert, senior engineer for Yates Racing – David Gilliand car #38 was the guest speaker. Jason talked about his early love of NASCAR and his interest in working on cars. He explained that his path to further his education at UNC Charlotte and receive his degree was based on a goal and a dream to work in the NASCAR field of racing Jason challenged and inspired the scholars to follow their dream.
The annual scholarship dinner could not be held without the generous support of corporate partners, individuals and volunteers who believe that education is truly the key to success. Many volunteers helped to make the room a fun and festive race themed room and to serve at the dinner; they include: Marlene Carter, Heather Renegar, Julia Nichols, Margaret Haering, Marion Schafer, Allison Schafer, Bonnie Rockaway, Nancy Penry, Erlene Ferguson, Teddy Carney and Boy Scout Troop 732. Our corporate and individual partners for the 2008 Scholarship dinner were: Jerry A Hauser, DDS, Adam Dorsett, DDS, PA; Hillsdale Dental, Ellyn Johnson, OD, Chris Ownes, OD; Carolina Center for Eye Care, Horn Oil Company, Inc., Horn’s Travel Center Milestone Restaurant, Jersey Mike’s, and Dairy Queen, Brenda Battle; Edward Jones Investments, Mrs. Margaret Haering, Bette and Sam Krause, and Alex and Christy Schafer. Additional thanks for support go to Bill Junker for the loan of NASCAR memorabilia and Todd Bailey for his donation of used auto parts for decorations.
