EDUCATION
Investing in
Education
A
Pender Education Partnership, a nonprofit educational foundation, works to support students, teachers and schools in Pender County.
An investment in education is an investment in the future. This belief led to the formation of the first and only nonprofit educational foundation in Pender County in May 2015. The Pender Education Partnership (PEP) has as its core mission enhancing “innovative education opportunities for students in Pender County Schools by supporting students and educators through collaboration with educators, parents, businesses and other interested community partners.” PEP Board President Dave Stipe, a former classroom teacher and school
BY PAT FONTANA
administrator, was one of the founding members of the organization. Along with several others in education and in the community, Stipe saw a need to help teachers buy supplies and fund classroom projects. A forming board of directors, which included current Board Vice President Tammy Proctor, developed the concept for PEP based on similar foundations such as the one in Proctor’s home state of Ohio. Today PEP hosts fundraisers and encourages employer partnerships to fund mini grants for teachers as well as scholarships for students. Board
Member Tammie Parris emphasizes that the foundation’s work toward providing meaningful scholarships for Pender County rising seniors can make the difference in that student being able to afford textbooks or tuition. Students who are planning to continue their education in the areas of trade certifications, community colleges or four-year institutions of higher learning in North Carolina can apply for the scholarships. Board Member Shannon Grable says the scholarships make “huge impacts” for students. She cites the example of a
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