East Rutherford High School Senior Kevin Tang Receives $1,200 Green Scholarship
Rutherford County, NC - May 2, 2022: Keep Rutherford County Beautiful (KRCB) is honored to announce that Kevin Tang, a graduating senior from East Rutherford High School, is the 2022 winner of the $1,200 Green Scholarship. Along with this scholarship, the range of applicants was so vast and their potential impact on our green future so wide, KRCB also awarded a $500 scholarship to runner-up Stephen Scala from R-S Central High School, and three $100 finalists awards to Kaleb Adair from East Rutherford, William Randeltt from Chase, and Selena Prescott from Rutherford Early College.
The $1,200 scholarship winner, Mr. Tang plans on attending the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the fall, pursuing a degree in Computer Science. In his scholarship application essay Mr. Tang says having lived in big cities in New York and New Jersey, he saw pollution of our environment, but also when living in Tennessee he saw trash polluting the streets and waterways. “I figured out that pollution is not just in these big cities; it is an enormous issue that is spread out across America and the world…” Mr. Tang says, “My involvement in my middle school STEM club let me figure out that I want to go into the computer science field because of how we can use technology and science to help save the world from environmental pollution.”
Any Rutherford County 2022 High School graduate engaged in pursuing a ‘green’ or eco-oriented undergraduate degree, and planning to enroll in either a 2- or 4-year program for the upcoming fall semester was able to apply for the 2022 Green Scholarship.
“The positive impact that these students have already had on our community in creating a more sustainable, beautiful place to live, work and play, is impressive,” says KRCB member and one of the scholarship funders Jenna Bailey, “but the plans and dreams of these winners shine an even brighter “green” future for us all. I am proud as a business owner and resident in Rutherford County to be able to help our youth financially reach their educational goals.”
The main $1,200 Green Scholarship was made possible by private funding from local business leaders, Andrew Tisdale, Edward Jones Financial Advisor, and Dr. Brock Hefflin. The additional $500 scholarship was generously funded by Cindy Cope and Rodrigo Chavez owners of Mi Pueblito Mexican Restaurant, and Jenna Bailey President of Artifacturing. Dr. Brock Hefflin also funded the three $100 finalists scholarships.
The 2022 Green Scholarship selection committee is an amazing group of representatives from key community partners who are involved in KRCB including: Don Cason with Rutherford County Tourism Development Authority, Dr. Janet Mason with the Town of Forest City, Jess Kerr with Rutherford Outdoor Coalition, Dr. Brock Hefflin with the Global Medical Device Nomenclature (GMDN), Jenna Bailey with Artifacturing, and Andrew Tisdale with Edward Jones.
Financial contributor and active KRCB member Dr. Brock Hefflin says, “The KRCB Green Scholarship provides an opportunity for the community to demonstrate to matriculating local high school graduates that we value their scholastic achievements, we share with them the want for a clean and healthy environment, and we care about their progress to constructively impact the world.”
Keep Rutherford County Beautiful (KRCB) started as an Earth Day litter pickup in 2016. Now, KRCB is a transformative movement throughout Rutherford County, North Carolina. Neighbors, industry leaders, business owners, school systems and municipalities have joined forces to change the way we define community - leading programs and initiatives to propel Rutherford County's beautification forward by tackling the problems arising from our disposable economy. Together, we are taking action to love where we live, work and play.