Members of the Women’s Club of Cypress Landing were overjoyed when they learned the $500 they planned to donate to the Cypress Landing Scholarship Endowment at Beaufort County Community College would bring that fund to $20,000.

When Judy Jennette, BCCC Foundation director, visited Cypress Landing, Pippin Madson, WCCL president, presented the donation to her. Also present were Chris Harris, treasurer of the Cypress Landing Homeowners Association, and Helen Sommerkamp, representing the association as chairwoman of its endowment campaign.

Jennette expressed her appreciation to Cypress Landing residents for their willingness to help Beaufort County educate its residents. She reported that this semester’s Cypress Landing Scholarship recipient has been designated and the name will be made public soon.

“Without your scholarships, three adult students would not have been able to obtain the education they need to support their families. Thank you very much,” Jennette said.

In June 2007, the association board, with Bob Schultz as its president, chose an educational endowment that would provide scholarships, in perpetuity, to needy and qualified students at BCCC as a way for Cypress Landing to contribute to the Beaufort County community in a long-term and significant way.

The association appointed Sommerkamp and Bill Lord to head that first campaign. Endowments grow in increments of $5,000, and that first goal was $5,000. Harris was appointed to receive all funds generated by the campaign and present them to Jennette.

Schultz stated, “Perhaps we can begin here and provide additional scholarships over time.”

By December 2007, more than $7,000 had been contributed. This amount, added to the other BCCC endowments, brought BCCC endowment funds, for the first time, to more than $1 million. Schultz and Sommerkamp were asked to speak at BCCC’s 40th-anniversary celebration that December.

That endowment has continued to grow, and three students have received scholarships. These students did not forget their benefactors. Each student has written a letter of appreciation to Cypress Landing residents.