 Students Cynthia Archbell (second from left) and Cecilia Kennon (second from right) became the first recipients of the Roselyn V. Armstrong Occupational Therapy Assistant Endowed Scholarship this month. Presenting the students with their awards were, left to right: Wendy Perrini, Department Chair of PCC's Occupational Therapy and Therapeutic Massage programs, Lee Armstrong, the late Roselyn Armstrong's husband and a PCC Drama instructor, and Donna Neal, PCC's Health Sciences Division Dean. |
WINTERVILLE�Nearly two years ago, family, friends and students of the late Roselyn Armstrong began raising money to establish a scholarship in memory of the late Pitt Community College Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) instructor. This month, their efforts finally paid off as OTA students Cynthia Archbell and Cecilia Kennon became the first recipients of the Roselyn V. Armstrong Occupational Therapy Assistant Endowed Scholarship. Archbell, a second-year student in the OTA program, graduates this month. The Jacksonville resident commuted from her hometown throughout her academic career and earned a stellar, 4.0 grade point average. In April, she received the President�s Scholarship for outstanding academics, leadership, volunteerism and service to the college and represented Pitt at the N.C. Community College Academic Excellence program in Raleigh. Kennon, a Roxboro native who now lives in Greenville, completes her first year in the OTA program this month and is set to begin her second year in January. Like Archbell, she also has a 4.0 grade point average. �These students were selected to receive the first Roselyn V. Armstrong Scholarship because they exemplify the spirit of Roselyn Armstrong and her dedication to working hard and helping others,� said Wendy Perrini, Department Chair of PCC�s Occupational Therapy and Therapeutic Massage programs. �In addition, they demonstrated leadership abilities and professional behaviors that Ms. Armstrong endeavored to cultivate in her students.� Armstrong, who worked at PCC for more than 15 years, died of cancer in 2007 at the age of 54. She had given up a lucrative private practice in occupational therapy to enter the teaching profession. �There is something about helping the next generation do their best that makes me feel like I have touched more lives than those I could have as a therapist,� Armstrong would say of her decision to pursue a career in education. Roselyn Armstrong�s husband Lee, a drama instructor at Pitt, presented Archbell and Kennon with their scholarships on Dec. 12. |