Craven County Board of Education honors students, teachers and community partners at Spring Awards Night

The Craven County Board of Education held its Spring Awards Night at Grover C. Fields, celebrating student and staff achievements across the district and acknowledging community support for classroom initiatives. Chair opened the program by saying the district aims to "be the true choice for students, staff, and families" as it works to prepare each learner to reach his or her fullest potential.

The program included student recognitions across academics, arts and athletics. Reese Marie Casteca of Havelock High School was named the district's North Carolina nominee for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program. The board also recognized students selected for the North Carolina Governor's School (including Valerie Lawhorn, Elijah Smallwood and Edwin Zhao), winners of Battle of the Books, FBLA regional medalists and multiple state-level technical competition winners who will compete nationally.

Athletics and performing arts received honors as well: students earned All-State band and chorus seats, and New Bern High and Havelock High wrestlers were recognized for state and regional accomplishments. The board highlighted students headed to the TSA national conference in Washington, D.C., and noted selected student artwork to be displayed in a year-long exhibit in the state building's North Lobby.

The district and its community partners funded classroom innovations: across both the fall and spring PIE grant cycles, "a total of $34,348.28 in PIE grant funding was awarded," the presenter said, and the Harold H. Bate Foundation awarded $35,000 in competitive grants and contributes $30,000 annually to sustain a beginning teacher store for new educators. Winners and school teams were named and invited forward for photos.

Craven County Schools was also recognized as a military Purple Star District for the fifth consecutive year by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction; the presenter credited district initiatives such as dedicated military points of contact at each school, staff training, student-led transition groups and a partnership with MCAS Cherry Point for supporting military families. Jody Scoggins, the district's Military Liaison Counselor, and principals were invited onstage during that recognition.

The board also honored employees who completed advanced degrees and National Board certifications and celebrated local CTE and leadership award recipients. After concluding recognitions and photos, the chair entertained motions to adjourn; the meeting was adjourned following a motion that the chair said carried unanimously.

No formal policy votes or new district actions were taken during the awards program; the agenda was adopted at the meeting's start and the session concluded with an adjournment motion.