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Over $500,000 in scholarships were awarded to the Class of 2021 at Cape Hatteras Secondary School of Coastal Studies during a senior celebration on May 25.

During the ceremony, 90 scholarships were awarded to 48 members of the Class of 2021. Additional academic honors were awarded 29 students.

During the ceremony, College of The Albemarle certificates and degrees were handed to six students.

Three students completed associate degrees at COA while still attending high school.

Laura Hooper graduated with her Associate of Arts degree magna cum laude. She will attend Meredith College with a scholarship valued at $92,000.

Laya Barley and Eliza Quidley graduated with their Associate of Arts degree cum laude.

Joseph Al Hodges completed the course necessary for a Career and College Certificate in fire protection technology from Fayetteville Technical Community College.

Emmiline Grace Baker completed a 32-credit hour pathway for a Career and Promise Pathway Certificate from COA. She will attend Clarion University of Pennsylvania with a scholarship valued at $24,000.

Maria Rose Bradley completed a 32-credit hour pathway for a Career and Promise Certificate from COA. She will also attend Clarion University of Pennsylvania with a scholarship valued at $24,000.

Making the COA presentations was John Hunting, who serves as the college’s liaison with Dare County Schools.

Daniel Lee Heister will report to the U.S. Army at Ft. Benning, Ga. in July. He will be trained for reconnaissance as a cavalry scout. At the celebration, Heister was awarded a 911 Yellow Ribbon Award of $150,000 to use at any college or university in the United States during or after his Army service. He also received a service award from Cape Hatteras Secondary of $150. Heister was surprised by the award. “I’m very excited,” he said. Heister lives in Buxton and since October 2020 has served as a junior volunteer firefighter with Buxton Volunteer Fire Department. Staff Sgt. Dylan Wood, who serves in the Elizabeth City recruiting office, made the presentation.

The evening celebrates student achievement, but also organizations raising funds to give Hatteras Island and other Dare County students financial support for post-secondary education.

The scholarships are memorials to family members. Memorials are also sponsored for community members and those associated with Hatteras Island education.

During the two-hour ceremony, three academic awards were announced.

North Carolina Scholars are required to have 3.5 GPA unweighted and fulfill certain course requirements. In the Cape Hatteras Secondary School Class of 2021, 13 graduating seniors met the seven requirements. Red honor cords were handed out at the ceremony.

STEM honors require a 3.5 GPA and STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) courses beyond those required for high school graduation. The class of 2021 at Cape Hatteras Secondary had six students achieve this honor. These students will wear black cords at graduation.

Ten members of the Class of 2021 received membership in National Technical Honor Society for completing a specific pathway of Career and Technical Education courses.

Class of 2021 Scholarship Recipients:

Maria Aburto-Luna, College of the Albemarle. JJM Prevenient Grace Memorial, $1,000.

Jose Jonathan Aburto-Tapia, Durham Tech.

Evan Gray Augustson, Santa Barbara City College. Kinnakeet Community Scholarship, $500; Avon Property Owners Association, $1,500.

Andrew Shanklin Austin III, Craven Community College, physical therapy assistant. North Carolina Scholar. National Technical Honor Society Member. Outer Banks Association of Realtors, $1,000, renewable; Dare County Boat Builders, $2,000 renewable; Cape Hatteras Anglers Club, $1,000; Outer Banks Hospital Healthcare, $750; Hatteras Island Arts and Crafts Guild, $1,000; Hatteras Village Civic Association, $2,000.

Calia Alejandra Babilonia, East Carolina University. Sherman McDaniel Memorial, $5,000.

Emmiline Grace Baker, Clarion University of Pennsylvania. North Carolina Scholar. STEM Honor. Golden Eagle Scholarship from Clarion University, $6,000 per year for four years; GO FAR Scholarship, $1,000; Student Government Association, $500; Challenging the Future, $500. She received a Career and Promise Pathway Certificate from College of The Albemarle.

Laya Elizabeth Barley, East Carolina University to study pediatric nursing. North Carolina Scholar. Frank and Ann Pellegrini Memorial, $500; Robbie Gray Memorial, $500; Monica C. Scarborough Memorial, $2,500; Surf Pediatric Foundation, $1,000, $500, $250, $250; Outer Banks Hospital Healthcare, $750; Elizabeth and Wayne Evans Scholarship, $5,000 for four years; Inez Daniels Austin, $3,000; Hatteras Island Christian Fellowship, $1,000; Chesapeake Hospital Authority, $2,500; Academic Basketball Scholarship, $1,000. She received her Associate of Arts degree from College of The Albemarle.

Maria Rose Bradley, Clarion University of Pennsylvania. North Carolina Scholar. Golden Eagle Scholarship from Clarion University, $6,000 per year for four years; Kaye E. Whitfield Memorial, $1,000; Ellis Ives III Scholarship, $2,000; Dare Education Foundation, $1,000; Outer Banks Association of Realtors, $1,000, renewable; Greg and Eden Honeycut Scholarship, $1,000 for four years; Hatteras Island Christian Fellowship, $1,000; Cape Hatteras Electric Cooperative, $1,000 for eight semesters; Dare County Retired School Personnel, $1,500; Mt. Olivet United Methodist Church, $3,000; Delta Kappa Gamma, $1,500; Outer Beaches Realty, $4,000. She received a Career and Promise Pathway Certificate from College of The Albemarle.

Johan Palafox Briones, East Carolina University. National Technical Honor Society Member. Carl Bornfriend Memorial, $1,000; Outer Banks Association of Homebuilders, $1,000; Dare County Arts Council Artrageous Youth, $500; R. Stewart Couch Scholarship, the largest single year scholarship awarded by the Outer Banks Community Foundation, $8,400; Theatre of Dare, $1,500.

Brayan Garcia Caldera, East Carolina University.

Kaleigh Ella Canning, Wake Tech.

Charles Gray Conner, Cape Fear Community College for diesel mechanics.

Hannah Jewel Curcio, East Carolina University to study nursing. Wesley Boyd Rimmer Memorial, $1,000; Sherman McDaniel Memorial, $5,000; Dare County Boat Builders, $2,000 renewable; Outer Banks Hospital Healthcare, $750; Outer Banks Shooting Club, $500;

Victor Antonio De Lao Caldera, Appalachian State University to study architecture. North Carolina Scholar. Dare County Fire Officers $1,500; Sound Construction, $1,000; Golden Leaf Foundation, $3,000 for four years.

Kristiana Helena Distel, East Carolina University. Outer Banks Forum for the Lively Arts, $1,000; Pursue Your Passion, $1,000; Marta Martinez Design Your Future Award, $500.

Kaylie Renee Farrow, College of The Albemarle. Kinnakeet Community Scholarship, $500;

Noah Ryan Gentry. National Technical Honor Society Member.

McKayla Gloria Gordon, University of North Carolina at Greensboro to study emergency pediatric care. National Technical Honor Society Member. Avon Property Owners Association, $1,500; Kinnakeet Community Scholarship, $500.

Noah James Hagy, College of The Albemarle. National Technical Honor Society Member. Avon Property Owners Association $1,500; Kinnakeet Community Scholarship, $500; Merian Conner Sawyer Memorial, $500.

Amber Lee Harrell, College of The Albemarle. Outer Banks Hospital, $750.

Daniel Lee Heister. U.S. Army. Daniel Lee Heister was awarded a 911 Yellow Ribbon Award of $150,000 to use at any college or university in the United States during or after his Army service. He also received a service award from Cape Hatteras Secondary of $150.

Joseph Al Hodges III, Wilson Community College. Received a Career and College Certificate in Fire Protection Technology from Fayetteville Technical Community College.

Austin Langford Hooper, undecided. Kinnakeet Community Scholarship, $500.

Aylah Hayden Hooper, Wake Tech.

Laura Adelle Hooper, Meredith College. North Carolina Scholar. STEM Honor. Outer Banks Association of Realtors, $1,000; Dare County Boat Builders, $2,000 renewable; Meredith College, $23,000 for four years. She received her Associate of Arts degree from College of The Albemarle.

Curren Russell Jackson, University of Toledo. Joyce Bornfriend Personal Growth Award, $500.

Leon Edgar Jennette III, College of The Albemarle. National Technical Honor Society Member.

Theodore Alexander Knight, Bellmont Abbey.

Macullah Jamison Lester, College of The Albemarle.

Owen Jay Little, College of The Albemarle. National Technical Honor Society Member

Chase Andrew Longfellow, undecided. Kinnakeet Community Scholarship, $500;

Michael Corbin Lord, undecided.  National Technical Honor Society Member. Merian Conner Sawyer Memorial, $500.

Marlee Taylor Luckett, Martin Community College.

Chaz Cameron Everett Mackenzie, undecided. National Technical Honor Society Member. Cape Hatteras Alumni and Friends, $500.

Cailin Mae Merillat, Martin Community College.

Jorah Avri Midgette, Elon University for physical therapy. National Technical Honor Society Member. Cape Hatteras Electric Cooperative, $1,000 for eight semesters.

Jackson Naylor Pullen, undecided. North Carolina Scholar.

Eliza Grace Quidley, North Carolina State University to study biology for the medical field. North Carolina Scholar. STEM Honor. William P. Dillon Memorial $500; North Carolina State Firefighters’ Association, $8,000; Dare County Boat Builders, $4,000 renewable; Cape Hatteras Anglers Club, $1,000 renewable for four years; Dare County Fire Officers, $1,500; Josephine Oden Memorial, $5,000 renewable; Osborne Scholarship, $1,500; Wallace H. McCown Scholarship, $1,250 renewable; Cape Hatteras Electric Cooperative, $1,000 for eight semesters; Chesapeake Hospital Authority, $2,500; Golden Leaf Foundation, $3,000 for four years. She received her Associate of Arts degree from College of The Albemarle.

Hailey Renae Quidley, undecided. North Carolina Scholar.

Bryan Azael Sanchez Aburto, College of The Albemarle.

Rubie Louise Shoemaker, Appalachian State University. North Carolina Scholar. Chaps Gray Memorial, $1,000; Midgett Realty, $2,000; Cape Hatteras Anglers Club, $1,000 renewable for two years; Braxton B. Hall Scholarship, $1,000; Daughters of the American Revolution, $150.

Conner McLeod Tawes, North Carolina State University. North Carolina Scholar. STEM Honor.

James Cornelius Tawes V, University of North Carolina at Charlotte. North Carolina Scholar. STEM Honor.

Nathan Kelsey Whitehead, University of North Carolina at Wilmington. North Carolina Scholar. STEM Honor. John and Bernice Conner Memorial, $500.

Mya Paige Williams, undecided. Kinnakeet Community Scholarship, $500.

Sara Alexus Williams, East Carolina University. John and Bernice Conner Memorial $500. North Carolina Beach Buggy Association, $3,400 for four years; 4Plus FWD Club, $600.

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