From Dr. Whitaker to the Alumni
I2*SES6KSE*|
There are several matters to
which I should like to call the
attention of alumni, students and
friends through this issue of the
Chowanian.
SCHOLAR INCENTIVE BILL:
At this writing there is before
the State Legislature a Scholar
Incentive Program represented in
Senate Bill 264 and House Bill 508.
This legislation is a vital factor in
the total program of higher educa
tion in the State of North Carolina,
and of special relevance to the pri
vate higher educational institutions
of North Carolina and North Caro
lina students who may choose to
attend them.
In the first place, it is declared
to be the public policy of the State
to comply with the mandate of the
Constitution of the State wherein
it is said; “Religion, morality and
knowledge being necessary to good
government and the happiness of
mankind, schools and the means
of education shall forever be en
couraged.” Currently, approximate
ly 46% of the students enrolled in
the colleges of North Carolina are
in private or church-related col
leges and 54% are enrolled in pub
lic supported colleges. The State
of North Carolina now must appro
priate an average of $750.00 per
student enrolled in public colleges
beyond what the student himself
pays. The Bill under discussion is
designed that for each student en
rolled in a non-tax supported col
lege (certainly beyond those now
enrolled), the State would save up
to $550.00 per student, to say
nothing of capital construction
costs that would probably amount
to $200.00 per student annually.
The Bill in effect would provide
badly needed assistance or scholar
ships for needy and worthy stu
dents who could not attend college
without help.
In the second place, under the
provisions of this Bill, a qualified
resident of North Carolina, who
attends North Carolina colleges
(public or private) could receive
a tuition grant of up to $100.00
per semester or a maximum of
$200.00 per year, depending upon
net state taxable income.
It has been found that 77.8% of
North Carolina residents have a
net state taxable income of
$2,000.00 or less, and under the
program a boy or girl from one of
these families could receive up to
$100.00 per semester, if the college
of his choice charged as much as
$400.00 per semester for tuition
(there would be no grant unless
the college charged in excess of
$100.00 per semester). There is a
graduated scale so that if the net
state taxable income of a family
exceeded $7,200.00 (and only 3%
of the North Carolina tMpayers
have an income exceeding this
amount!), there would be no help
under this Bill. It is estimated
that the cost to the State would be
$3,000,000.00 per year or
$6,000,000.00 for the biennium.
It is important to note that this
is an incentive program. More
over, it would help to equalize the
tuition charge between private and
tax supported institutions. It would
permit students who live in the
locality of a private or church-
related institution to attend one of
these colleges, and thus serve one
of the stated purposes for estab
lishing a State system of com
prehensive community junior col
leges.
North Carolina students have
a great deal to gain if this Bill
is passed. I strongly urge our
students, alumni and friends to
contact their senators or repre
sentatives and make known their
thinking concerning the Bill.
This Bill is much like the old
Federal G. I. Bill. Moreover, the
State now helps students, in the
college of their choice, under the
Rehabilitation Program of the
State and gives up to $300.00 per
year to students who plan to teach
in North Carolina. It is important
to note that there is no infringe
ment of the cherished principle of
separation of church and state, in
that any grant made would be to
the student and not to the college.
Building Program on Campus
Currently we have under con
struction a 216-bed dormitory for
men, which will feature built-in
furniture and will be completely
air conditioned: it is located im
mediately behind Mixon Dormitory
and the existing New Dormitory
for Men. This dormitory is sched
uled to be ready for use in Septem
ber of this year. Also, we are
beginning construction on a new
classroom building. This facility
is a most needed and significant
one. It will enable us to increase
our library temporarily, to make
use of areas now used as class
rooms, adjacent to the gymnasium,
in our physical educaMon program.
The classroom building is sched
uled to be ready for use sometime
around Thanksgiving. We have
buildings under construction; now
we must get the money together in
order to pay the Contractor!
We have paved the drive at the
rear entrance of the campus,
something which has needed to be
done for several years. One of our
interested friends is considering
helping us to build two additional
and much needed tennis courts,
and to place lights on them and
the three existing ones. The three
tennis courts now in use were con
structed when we had just over
200 students, and with an enroll
ment of over 800 we should have
at least ten or twelve; two addi
tional ones now will help.
Action is being taken to pro
vide an athletic field on the
campus. The field will be adap
ted for football and baseball and
provide approximately 2,000
seats for spectators. Already,
civic clubs, students, faculty and
other interested persons are at
work raising the necessary funds.
The Murfreesboro Jaycees have
purchased and donated nine 80
foot poles with a total of 90 pow
erful lights. The Murfreesboro
Exchangites have pledged a
handsome scoreboard and clock.
Chowan students are at work
selling magazines and the prof
it from these sales will be add
ed to the funds for seats. Many
others are at work. It is expected
that other civic clubs, campus
organizations and friends will
join togther to "turn on the
lights" on the Chowan College
Athletic Field.
Alma Mater is growing in size,
quality and service. I am happy
to report that the “Chowan spirit”
continues to pervade the campus.
There will be inevitable changes
and additions in the physical
plant, but it is my hope that we
will strive always to follow the
long honored tradition of provid
ing "a school of high order”. We
have other building needs, in
cluding a new drive and a great
deal more parking areas for auto
mobiles. The need for a new and
modern library, with additional
volumes, is nothing short of urgent.
May Day and Commencement
We are looking forward to May
4 when we will celebrate May Day.
At that time many of our alumni
will return and hear an address
by an alumnus. State Senator John
R, Jordan, Jr. of Raleigh. A high
light of the day will be the crown
ing in the afternoon of the May
Day Queen and attendant festivi
ties.
Commencement exercises will
be held on Sunday, June 2. Dr.
James C. Barry, Editor of Week
Day Materials of the Baptist Sun
day School Board in Nashville,
Tennessee will deliver the baccau-
lereate sermon at 11; 00 a. m. The
venerable Rev. J. Clyde Turner,
long time pastor of First Baptist
Church in Greensboro and now of
Raleigh, will deliver the com
mencement address at 2:30 o’clock
in the afternoon. We expect to
graduate approximately 175 stu
dents.
Three of our top professors
will be away next year complet
ing work for their Ph.D. de
grees—P rofessor James M.
Chamblee, chairman of the de
partment of music, at the Uni
versity of North Carolina; Pro
fessor William Calvin Dickinson,
of the department of history.
University of North Caroli-ia;
Professor Leo L. Bishop, chair
man of the department of science
and mathematics, at Louisla'a
State University, on a scholar
ship from the National Science
Foundation. The college will aid
each of these men to some de
gree financially.
We anticipate an additonal 75-
100 students for the coming yea ’,
giving us approximately 850 stu
dents. Continue to recommend
qualified students for admission.
In terms of the quality of students
being admitted and the number
and quality of our faculty. I anti-
cipatfe the coming year with great
satisfaction.
To those students who are grad
uating. I extend congratulations
and best wishes. To them I can
say that they have been a Dart of
a growing and strengthened Cho
wan College. On June 2 they will
not only graduate but will be a
part of the closing of what I con
sider to be the best, by far, of
my six years of service as Presi
dent of this beloved Chowan
College.
To all of our alumni and friends,
we extend greetings and best wish
es. We invite you to visit the
campus whenever you can and
will. I close with a plea that you
remember Chowan College as you
pray.
Alumni:
Chowan
Needs
Your
Support
Profile of an Alumnus
J. M. “Piggy” Jenkins lives at
508 Lakeview Drive in Murfrees
boro, North Carolina. “Piggy” as
he is known to his many friends,
is a first rate citizen.
The Murfreesboro Exch'inge
Club attested to this recently by
entering his name in the Book of
Golden Deeds. The club thereby
expressed appreciation for his man
ifold contributions to his communi
ty, his area, his state, and his
country.
Mr. Jenkins has served as prin
cipal at the Murfreesboro High
School for the past 15 yea-s. Prioi-
to his association in Mu>'treesboro
as principal he was associated wilh
the Beaufort County Board of Edu
cation. He attended Chowan Col
lege in 1933-35 and then continued
his studies at Wake Forest College
where he received his B.S. degree
in history-government. He has done
graduate work at Wake Forest
and East Carolina College getting
his M.A. degree from Wake Forest
College. The principal is currently
serving as president of the North
eastern District Principal’s Asso
ciation. He serves as a deacon in
the Murfreesboro Baptist Church
and is president of the Murfrees
boro Rotary Club.
“Piggy” is well-known for his
exceptional ability as an after-
dinner speaker. He averages five
or six speeches pe"" month which
are classified as speeches of hu
mor and inspirational thoughts. He
ABLE ADMINISTRATOR—He is an able administrator. J. M. "Pig-
gie" Jenkins is principal of the Murfreesboro High School where
he administers the multitudinous duties of a busy, progressive and
successful high school principal. He is also "right at home" behind
his desk.
draws humor from experiences di
rectly or indirectly associated with
school work. This seems to come
easy for this man who is known
by all as a cheerful and witty
person with a certain serious con
tent that makes him adept at
making others happy.
The Murfreesboro Principal
claims an unusual hobby. He likes
to be a spectator at any kind of
game. He never misses a game
that his high school plays and at
home football games he is an
able announcer. When the Chowan
Braves put on an athletic exhibition
he is right there giving moral
support.
Mr. Jenkins is the father of a
12 year old son, J. M. Jenkins, Jr.
Mrs. Jenkins is the former Jose
phine Ambrose of Belhaven, North
Carolina.
We proudly salute J. M. “Piggy”
Jenkins, another successful Cho
wanian of outstanding ability.
Wedding Bells
PUBLIC SPEAKER—Indicative of
Mr. Jenkin's ability as a public
speaker, he is "right at home"
behind the speaker's stand. His
ability as an after dinner speak
er, is supported by his humor
and vi^ords of vi/isdom that
penetrate every audience that
he faces. He averages five or six
speaking engagements per
month.
Betty Lou Picot of Franklin, Va.
to Patrick Wayne Jordan of Ahos-
kie. October 7 in Franklin.
Floyd Estel Davis, Jr. of Win
ston Salem to Beverly Ruth Wicker
of Raleigh on Dec. 29 in Raleigh.
Susanne Faye Sansbury of Rox-
boro to SP4 Robert Lynn Parsons,
USA, on Dec. 24 in Roxboro.
Janet Gail Williford of Windsor to
to Lewis Smith of Newsoms, Va.
on Dec. 22 near Windsor.
Mrs. Ruth S. Stephenson of Pen
dleton to Rev. Randolph Phillips of
Pendleton on Jan. 5 in Wake
Forest.
Audrey Jean Hoggard of Lewis
ton to Joseph Harrington, Jr. of
Rich Square.
Nancy Jane Britton of Roanoke
Rapids to Alonzo Merrick Barnes,
Jr. of Philadelphia, Pa. in Raleigh
on January 26, 1963.
Mary Jo Lowe of Maravian Falls,
Va. to Lt. David Elwyn Lovette,
USA, on Jan. 27.
Richard Jefferson Shouse to San
dra Elaine Williams on Dec. 23.
Frances Patricia Turner of Wel
don to Shelby Gene Vaughan of
Roanoke Rapids in Weldon on
Dec. 22.
William Neil Graham to Patricia
Jeanne DeBerry in Murfreesboro
at the Murfreesboro Methodist
Church on February 10. Mr. Gra
ham is presently stationed with
the United States Paratrooper
Special Forces, Ft. Bragg.
Frances Blanche Peed to Allen
Gray Tyre on Sunday afternoon,
February 17, in the Vernon Meth
odist Church in Williamston.
Carolyn Lee Coltrain to J. C.
Griffin, Jr. in Williamston at the
Macedonia Christian Church.
FOR APRIL-MAY, 1963