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September 22, 2007

Smithfield Scholarship Winners Meet New FSU Chancellor

by Ralf Walters

FAYETTEVILLE –  Children and grandchildren of Smithfield Packing Co. employees who attend Fayetteville State University on Smithfield-Luter Foundation scholarships got the opportunity to meet the school’s new Chancellor and one another at a special campus celebration, Sept. 21.

Called “FSU Friday, ‘The Bronco Experience,’” the half-day long, afternoon event was organized to give new and returning students, and the public, the opportunity to meet professors, staff, and administration in a festive atmosphere. The program opened at Jeralds Stadium where the crowd was treated to a spirited music performance by the university’s marching band, an acrobatic routine by cheerleaders, and a stirring presentation of the color flags by the ROTC. Chancellor Dr. Lloyd V. Hackley, who returned to the post this fall after a long hiatus, delivered a warm, welcoming speech. After the ceremony, students gathered under sunny skies at the school commons for free hot dogs, drinks, and the chance to socialize between Friday classes.

Later, Chancellor Hackley met with four of the seven Smithfield-Luter scholarship winners to personally congratulate them on their achievements. All freshmen, the students are majoring in a wide variety of disciplines including, nursing, psychology, mass communications, forensic science, and criminal justice.

Marking the first year of the scholarship program, the students were awarded an average of $3,500 toward tuition costs, according to Development Officer Mary Bailey of the Office of Institutional Advancement. She said FSU’s tuition is approximately $6,000 for full-time, state residents living on campus.

Kayla Brianne of Elizabethtown who is studying nursing said she is “very thankful” for the Smithfield-Luter Foundation scholarship.

“It is not often that people just decide to give you money. Smithfield made it their business to make sure that their employees’ families received the same opportunity to go to college as everyone else.  Instead of being a mass corporation that is only concerned with money, Smithfield actually cares about their employees and their families. I am greatly appreciative for the Smithfield-Luter Foundation scholarship,” she said.

Lawrence Thomas of Fayetteville is a psychology major, he said he is the youngest of three children and the first in his family to go to college.

“The Smithfield-Luter Foundation scholarship has given me the opportunity to put forth more because now I don’t have to worry about how I am going to pay for the rest of my freshman year. The scholarship has taken a burden off of my shoulders. I am very grateful and pleased to have received the Smithfield-Luter Foundation Scholarship,” he said.

Fayetteville State University was the latest historically black school to be added to a growing list of collegiate scholarship partners to receive up to $100,000 in scholarship grants from the Smithfield-Luter Foundation.

The universities administer the scholarship programs and make all decisions on awarding scholarships, with guidance from the foundation. In order to be eligible for the scholarships, applicants must be a dependent child or grandchild of a Smithfield Foods employee; demonstrate financial need; and be accepted by one of the partnership schools.

“We’re pleased to expand our scholarship program to these fine institutions because it offers additional opportunities for a college education to young people who likely could not afford to do so otherwise,” said Dennis H. Treacy, executive director of the Smithfield-Luter Foundation and vice-president of environmental and corporate affairs for Smithfield Foods.

“We feel strongly about educating our young people and believe it’s a critical part of making a community a better place to live, raise a family, work, and do business,” he said.

Treacy said the foundation was looking forward to a long future of involvement with the university. He said the scholarship program opens the doors of opportunity for the children and grandchildren of Smithfield Foods employees to become accountants or to fill other professional positions at the company should they choose to seek careers there.

Copyright © Patterson Partners, Inc. 2007. All rights reserved.