Past and Present Converge to Support the Future
Mollie Shannon Gallop, grandmother of Dare Schools Child Nutrition Director Carol Sykes, MS, SNS, was the inspiration for Sykes' 10K AVID scholarship that was awarded through the Dare Education Foundation to MHS 2011 graduate Mayra Munoz.
Partnership with DEF Provides Mollie Shannon Gallop Scholarship
Carol Sykes grew up hearing tales of life in Manteo, Manns Harbor and the Outer Banks from her mom, grandmother and thirteen aunts and uncles. After years of wanting to live on the Outer Banks, Sykes made the move four years ago, and now begins her fifth year as Child Nutrition Director for Dare County Schools.To honor her family roots in Dare and give back to the community, Sykes decided to donate $10,000 to the Dare Education Foundation to fund a scholarship.
The scholarship was named in honor of her grandmother, Mollie Shannon Gallop. Sykes says that throughout her life Gallop valued education, literacy and modeled life-long learning. This scholarship was given in her honor and was designated for a graduating AVID student. Before awarding the scholarship at the June 9, 2011 celebration honoring the districts first AVID graduates, Sykes related the oft-repeated story of her grandmother, Mollie Shannon Gallop.
"Nearly a century ago, a young lady in Dare County had dreams of going to college at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In that day, it was unusual for a woman to go to pursue a higher education. Not unlike students today, she did not have the money for college. She worked for several years at Washington Baum Department Store in downtown Manteo and saved her earnings. Finally, she packed all her possessions into one simple trunk and went to Chapel Hill.
"Shortly after settling in at UNC Chapel Hill a letter came from home. There was a measles epidemic in Manteo and she was told to come home immediately so she would not spread the disease. She set down the letter and left her room to attend the university president’s welcoming speech. He greeted the new students and then to her surprise said, “Chapel Hill is a clean town. If any diseases appear you brought them.” After the event she rushed back to her room and did want most new college students would do. She burned the letter and stayed right there at UNC!
"After college she taught in a one home school house in Currituck. While living and teaching there she met her husband. They moved to Dare County where she raised fourteen children in Manteo and later, Manns Harbor. Many live in Dare County today with their children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and so on.
Sykes expressed appreciation to the Dare Education Foundation for allowing her to work with their scholarship committee to select the recipient and to administer the scholarship. The committee selected AVID graduate Mayra Munoz to receive the sustaining scholarship that will be issued in $2,500 increments for a total of $10,000 during Munoz's years in higher education.
AVID is a research based college readiness program that mentors average students and first generation potential collegians. All of the Manteo High AVID graduates are headed to either two year or four year schools, exceeding AVID's remarkable national average of 96 percent going on to higher education.
From: Carol Sykes/sps