2023 Scholarships awarded

During the recent 38th Graham-Powell Family Reunion; the Graham-Powell Family Educational

Foundation, Inc presented $1,000.00 scholarships to four graduates from the New Hanover

County – Pender County area. In June of 2021; the Late Dr. Irene Van Travis requested her

nieces and nephews to complete her life-long dream of establishing a foundation to support

high school graduates that were pursuing higher education. The foundation was established

and granted its 501(c)(3) accreditation in January 2022. Since that time, the foundation has

supported the Dr. Irene Van Travis Endowed Scholarship at Elizabeth City State University. This

scholarship supports students from southeastern North Carolina majoring in Special Education.

This year the foundation presented the first general scholarships. The recipients are Breanna

Storms (Pender Early College), Shane Johnson (Topsail High School); Latesha Walker (New

Hanover High School), and Naiya Graham (Girls Leadership Academy of Wilmington). Latesha

Walker and Naiya Graham are pictured with James D. Smith, representing the Graham-Powell

Family Educational Foundation.