The Central Carolina Community College Association of Educational Office Professionals honored four scholarship recipients at its August 25 meeting at the Dennis A. Wicker Civic Center.

CCCCAEOP Scholarship winners were Veterinary Medical Technology student Anna L. McKellar, Early Childhood Education Teacher Associate student Patricia L. Sellers, and Laser and Photonics Technology student James M. Knight, all of Sanford, and Library and Information Technology student Deborah R. Smith, of Conover.

CCCC President Bud Marchant, CCCCAEOP President Sue Whitman, and Scholarship Committee Chair Peggy Cotten presented each student with a $500 scholarship for the 2011-12 school year.

"The CCCCAEOP is proud to support our students by awarding scholarships annually and helping them achieve their goals and afford their education," Whitman said. "We know how hard it is for some students to afford college and are happy we can help them."

CCCCAEOP promotes and furthers the advancement of education by improving the quality of service rendered to the educational system and to the community. Scholarship funds are raised through the organization's Silent Auction each December. By awarding scholarships, the AEOP helps students follow their dreams and continue their education.

To be eligible for a scholarship, a student must be enrolled full-time in a curriculum program at the college and maintain a "C" or better in each subject.

The CCCCAEOP is part of District 7 of the N.C. Association of Educational Office Professionals. Since 1971, the state organization has established scholarships in the names of those who have made outstanding contributions to the association. In addition, the 14 districts and 105 locals provide scholarships. In total, NCAEOP has awarded more than $1 million in scholarships over the past 30 years.