Two WCPS graduates were recognized by the Wayne County Board of Education on Monday evening for receiving valuable scholarships with military connections.

United States Navy Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) Scholarship: Wayne School of Engineering 2021 graduate, Peyton Wilkins is the recipient of the United States Navy ROTC Scholarship, which will cover his full tuition to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

The Navy ROTC is a multi-year program that runs concurrently with a student’s normal college or university educational course of study. In addition to a normal academic workload leading to a Baccalaureate degree, Navy ROTC students attend classes in Naval Science, participate in the Navy ROTC unit for drill, physical training, and other activities, and are generally taught the leadership principles and high ideals of a military officer. During the summer break between school years, Navy ROTC students participate in a variety of training activities. The sessions are designed to help students understand various career options as well as familiarize them with a military life. As a part of the Navy ROTC scholarship, Mr. Wilkins will also receive a stipend for textbooks and have any mandatory student fees covered.

Mr. Wilkins is a North Carolina Honor Graduate. He also completed 56 hours of college courses at Wayne Community College. During his high school career, Mr. Wilkins served as a Wyldlife youth counselor, a YMCA certified lifeguard, vice-president of his high school economics club, a member of Young Life, a community volunteer, and a player on a number of club baseball teams. Mr. Wilkins plans to major in business and minor in political science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Upon graduation, he plans to become an aviator in the U.S. Navy.

Corvias Scholarship: Wayne Early/Middle College High School 2021 graduate, Kiera Negron is the recipient of a Corvias Scholarship, worth up to $50,000 to attend North Carolina State University.

Ms. Negron is one of seven high school graduates in the nation to receive the scholarship.  Each of the scholarship recipients are children of active-duty service members stationed at one of the 13 military installations which have housing properties managed by Corvias. The scholarships, awarded through the Corvias Foundation, are designed to provide the recipients dependable and recurring financial assistance for each of their four academic years. Students receive a portion of their total scholarship amount per year to pursue their higher education degrees at institutions across the country. In addition to tuition support, Corvias Foundation scholars also receive beyond-the-dollar support including conference and internship opportunities, mentoring, and a dedicated network of other scholars and alumni intended to lead to academic and professional success.

Ms. Negron is a North Carolina Honor Graduate. She also earned an Associate in Science degree while dually enrolled at Wayne Community College. During her high school career, Ms. Negron volunteered in her community as a tutor and was an active member of her school’s Key Club and the Student Council Association. It is worth noting that Ms. Negron was also awarded the Presidential Volunteer Service Award for the last three years. She plans to major in accounting and hopes to one day become an actuary.

“We congratulate Mr. Wilkins and Ms Negron for their outstanding achievements,” states Dr. David Lewis, WCPS Interim Superintendent. “We wish them both much success in their personal and academic aspirations. We also wish Mr. Wilkins the very best as he heads to basic training this summer as the first step toward his goal of one day becoming a military aviator.”