Helen C. Gantt Memorial Education Scholarship
Helen C. Gantt knew at an early age that education and hard work would play a significant role in her life. Her mother was a high school history teacher while her father owned and operated a welding shop after serving in the US Navy. Both of her parents valued education and challenged her to put forth her best effort academically.
After graduating from Appalachian State with a teaching degree, Helen settled in Davie County in 1968 to begin teaching and raising a family. She raised two children that still reside in Davie County and share her passion to make a difference. As an educator, Helen had the opportunity to make lifelong friends and touch the lives of her students. To this day, her children are often reminded of how she made learning fun and the way she took time to listen or to offer assistance after school so that one child would not suffer or feel left out. Her giving spirit and infectious smile lit up the day for many of her students.
Giving in to an entrepreneurial calling, Helen stepped away from teaching and opened Gantt Personnel Inc, in 1988. She had now accepted the challenge of helping those in the community find jobs in order to help support their families. Her staffing agency would go on to touch the lives of more than 30,000 employees before closing in March of 2005.
Helen was diagnosed with cancer in 1996 and would ultimately lose her battle with this disease in November of 1998. Before she passed, she shared with friends and family that her personal success had been sculpted by many others in her life. She encouraged those around her to accept life’s challenges, explore opportunities, and respect people you meet for you never know how they may impact your life.
The Helen C. Gantt Memorial Scholarship is available to a high school senior or college student pursuing a degree in Education.