Local News
UP senior lands scholarship to become teacher in region
Alyssa Mabe, a Union Pines High School senior from Carthage, signed the very first Grow Moore Teachers Pathway Scholarship agreement on Wednesday, May 7, on the Sandhills Community College (SCC) campus. She was praised by school leaders for her accomplishments during her high school tenure and will now have future opportunities to partner with Moore County Schools, SCC, and UNC Pembroke through this unique program.
Moore County Schools Superintendent Dr. Tim Locklair stated, “We are incredibly proud of Alyssa for becoming the first recipient of the Grow Moore Teachers Pathway Scholarship. This milestone reflects not only Alyssa’s hard work and passion for education but also the strength of the partnership between Moore County Schools, Sandhills Community College, and UNC Pembroke to grow and support the next generation of teachers. Together, we are building a brighter future for our students and our community.”
Mabe will graduate on June 6 from Union Pines High School and join the SCC family in the fall of 2025. Her mother, Kimberly Mabe, also a teacher, greatly influenced Mabe’s desire to pursue a teaching career.
“I want to be a teacher because I have seen the impact my mother has made on her students’ lives and how they remembered her after many years for what she taught them and how she treated them,” Mabe shared. “I have also seen the hours she’s spent planning lessons, activities, and positive behavior incentives for her classes. I aspire to be the same kind of teacher. I have always wanted to be an elementary school teacher because I want to have an impact on people’s lives and teach so many kids how to do so many different things.”
The Grow Moore Teachers Pathway Scholarship is a collaborative scholarship agreement between SCC, Moore County Schools, and The University of North Carolina at Pembroke, created to address the teacher shortage and ensure a pipeline of highly qualified educators for Moore County. This scholarship is available to all students graduating from Moore County Schools and offers a unique opportunity: recipients first complete one of seven associate degrees at SCC, then transfer to UNCP to complete a major in the Educator Preparation Program (EPP), and ultimately return to Moore County Schools as teachers.
The program leverages the strengths of dual enrollment, the SCC Foundation, and the partnership among the three institutions, making it an affordable and impactful pathway for aspiring teachers. As SCC President Sandy Stewart emphasizes, “We will always need teachers. This partnership is a unique pathway to help scholars teach in their community.”
“Teaching is a noble profession that transforms lives, strengthens communities, and upholds the public good of public schools,” said Dr. Robin Calcutt, Chair, Moore County Schools Board of Education. “We recognize that licensed, well-prepared teachers play a pivotal role in shaping student achievement. The collaborative efforts of our community, Moore County Schools, Sandhills Community College, and UNC-Pembroke in advancing this initiative exemplify a shared commitment to educational excellence and to ensuring that our public schools are staffed with the highest caliber of educators. We are incredibly excited for our first Moore Teachers Scholar, Alyssa, to begin her journey to become a teacher in Moore County Schools and look forward to increasing this opportunity in the future.”
Mabe describes herself in her essay as an exceptionally hard worker when it comes to anything in life, especially school.
“I always do my absolute best to make good grades and go above and beyond in all of my classwork,” said Mabe. “I know that being a teacher requires hard work, and I am already experienced with that in my life. I am very involved in my classes as well as my extracurriculars. I participate in cross country, indoor/outdoor track and field, FFA, hunter safety team, and I am involved in my church’s youth group.”
She adds that teaching is a job that requires hard work because you have to be “on” for eight hours a day, not to mention the time spent preparing the classroom and lessons beforehand and resetting afterward.
“I am a very compassionate person,” Mabe said. “I always put others above myself and help anyone with anything they need. I frequently check up on my friends, family, and acquaintances to make sure they are doing well. If they say they need anything or just need someone to talk to, I will always be there for them. I strongly believe in always having a positive attitude throughout life because your actions could make someone’s day better. If you go through life with a smile on your face, it will not only be good for your mental health, but it will also provide a glimmer of light into everyone’s life around you,” she said. “I can apply that trait to my teaching career by listening to what my students need and providing them with that as well. I can also apply this by making my students feel safe, secure, and cared for so that they will thrive in my classroom.”
Some of Mabe’s honors through FFA include placing fourth in her division for the Youth Market Turkey Show at NC State, earning second place in the state AgriScience Fair at the FFA state convention, and qualifying for a state degree in FFA in the summer of 2025. For cross country, indoor, and outdoor track, she competed at regional and state championships, with her sophomore year 4×800 relay team placing sixth in the state. As a senior, she served as co-captain of the cross-country team. She has consistently been on the Honor Roll or Distinguished List every semester of high school.
Mabe has been an active member of Union Pines FFA for three years and has been a member of Red Branch Baptist Church for 17 years, where she currently mentors at-risk youth in a community outreach program and participates in outreach ministry every Wednesday night and Sunday morning.
Rachel Wicker, agriculture teacher at Union Pines High School, adds, “Alyssa has been part of our Agriculture program at Union Pines her entire high school career. She strives for success in anything that she participates in. I have seen her come in as a shy freshman to an outgoing senior that has amazing leadership skills and is an amazing team player. Watching how much she has grown over the past four years makes me proud to say that Alyssa would be an excellent candidate for the Grow Moore Teachers Pathway Scholarship. She would make a great addition to becoming a teacher, especially here in Moore County.”
Nathan Oakes, Student Ministry Director at Red Branch Baptist Church, adds, “There is no doubt in my mind that Alyssa will one day be an amazing teacher. I have always known Alyssa to be of sound character, being compassionate, creative, disciplined, honest, humble, optimistic, patient, persistent, resilient, sincere, and having a great sense of ambition. Over the course of the past year, I have witnessed tremendous personal growth in Alyssa’s communication, leadership, and problem solving. She takes on her position as a role model to the younger girls within the church very seriously.”
To sign up for the free Sandhills Sentinel breaking news and weekly e-newsletter, please click here.
Contributed article/photo.
Gov. Josh Stein recently announced an investment of $48 million in Completing Access to Broadband (CAB) program projects to connect 14,514 households and businesses in Moore and 21 other counties to high-speed internet.
“Connecting all North Carolinians, especially in our rural areas, opens doors of opportunity,” said Gov. Josh Stein in a news advisory. “I am proud to continue to bring high-speed internet access to all corners of our state.”
“With reliable high-speed internet, North Carolinians can access online services necessary for remote work, virtual education, and telehealth, ensuring they can fully participate in the modern digital world,” said NCDIT Secretary and State Chief Information Officer Teena Piccione. “By creating a more connected state, we are investing in the future prosperity and resiliency of our communities.”
These projects will be funded by more than $33 million from the federal American Rescue Plan awarded by NCDIT and more than $14 million from selected broadband providers:
Alexander County: Connect Holding II, LLC (Brightspeed) This award will provide high-speed internet access to 125 homes and businesses (5.5% of the county’s 2,271 eligible locations after previous awards).
Bladen County: Star Telephone Membership Corp (Star Communications) This award will provide high-speed internet access to 88 homes and businesses (12.43% of the county’s 708 eligible locations).
Burke County: Foothills Broadband, LLC These awards will provide high-speed internet access to 113 homes and businesses (4.72% of the county’s 2,391 eligible locations after previous awards).
Chatham County: Connect Holding II, LLC (Brightspeed) This award will provide high-speed internet access to 1,006 homes and businesses (26.09% of the county’s 3,856 eligible locations).
Craven County: Connect Holding II, LLC (Brightspeed) This award will provide high-speed internet access to 1,790 homes and businesses (65.62% of the county’s 2,728 eligible locations).
Currituck County: Wilkes Telephone Membership Corporation (RiverStreet Networks) This award will provide high-speed internet access to 162 homes and businesses (62.54% of the county’s 259 eligible locations after previous awards).
Guilford County: Spectrum Southeast, LLC This award will provide high-speed internet access to 463 homes and businesses (21.43% of the county’s 2,161 eligible locations).
Halifax County: Roanoke Connect Holdings, LLC (Fybe) This award will provide high-speed internet access to 2,613 homes and businesses (93.42% of the county’s 2,797 eligible locations).
Harnett County: Connect Holding II, LLC (Brightspeed) This award will provide high-speed internet access to 1,019 homes and businesses (29.03% of the county’s 3,510 eligible locations after previous awards).
Hoke County: LREMC Technologies, LLC (RIVR Tech) This award will provide high-speed internet access to 716 homes and businesses (50.03% of the county’s 1,431 eligible locations).
Iredell County: Yadkin Valley Telephone Membership Corporation (Zirrus) This award will provide high-speed internet access to 517 homes and businesses (24.22% of the county’s 2,135 eligible locations).
Lee County: Windstream North Carolina, LLC This award will provide high-speed internet access to 617 homes and businesses (28.38% of the county’s 2174 eligible locations).
Mitchell County: Zito West Holding, LLC (Zito Media) This award will provide high-speed internet access to 84 homes and businesses (20.94% of the county’s 401 eligible locations after previous awards).
Moore County: Connect Holding II, LLC (Brightspeed) This award will provide high-speed internet access to 1,573 homes and businesses (38.31% of the county’s 4,106 eligible locations).
Pender County: Atlantic Telephone Membership Cooperative (FOCUS Broadband) This award will provide high-speed internet access to 224 homes and businesses (34.09% of the county’s 657 eligible locations).
Rowan County: Spectrum Southeast, LLC This award will provide high-speed internet access to 293 homes and businesses (14.15% of the county’s 2,389 eligible locations after previous awards).
Sampson County: Star Telephone Membership Corp (Star Communications) and StarVision Inc. (Star Communications) These awards will provide high-speed internet access to 114 homes and businesses (19.79% of the county’s 576 eligible locations after previous awards).
Stanly County: Windstream North Carolina, LLC This award will provide high-speed internet access to 935 homes and businesses (26.62% of the county’s 3,513 eligible locations).
Stokes County: Wilkes Telephone Membership Corporation (RiverStreet Networks) This award will provide high-speed internet access to 1,377 homes and businesses (62.56% of the county’s 2,201 eligible locations).
Surry County: Surry Telephone Membership Corporation (Surry Communications) These awards will provide high-speed internet access to 278 homes and businesses (34.11% of the county’s 815 eligible locations).
Wayne County: Connect Holding II, LLC (Brightspeed) This award will provide high-speed internet access to 404 homes and businesses (15.61% of the county’s 2,588 eligible locations after previous awards).
Wilkes County: Connect Holding II, LLC (Brightspeed) This award will provide high-speed internet access to three homes and businesses (7.31% of the county’s 41 eligible locations after previous awards).
The CAB program’s procurement process creates a partnership between counties and NCDIT to identify areas that need access, solicit proposals from prequalified internet service providers, and quickly make awards. Awardees must agree to provide high-speed service that reliably meets or exceeds speeds of 100 Mbps download and 100 Mbps upload.
“Gov. Stein is committed to closing the digital divide. Today’s awards add to the $596 million in Growing Rural Economies with Access to Technology (GREAT) grants and previous CAB projects that will connect more than 230,000 North Carolina households and businesses to high-speed internet,” said the advisory.
For more information about the NCDIT Division of Broadband and Digital Opportunity, visit ncbroadband.gov.
To sign up for the free Sandhills Sentinel breaking news and weekly e-newsletter, please click here.
Contributed article.
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our mom, Dora Anne Maness, on Thursday, May 15, 2025, at the age of 96, surrounded by her family.
She was born on a Moore County farm to the late James Lynn and Vallie Phillips Fields. Her husband William preceded her in death in 1997. Her son William, Jr. followed in January 2025. Also preceding in death were siblings, Leonard Fields (Imogene), Walter Fields (Pauline), D.A. Fields (Louvene) and Helen Frye (Bud).
Here to cherish her memory are daughters, Sharon Whitfield (Frank), Denise Williams (Ronnie), daughter-in-law, Ann; bonus daughters: Pat Corbin, Pat Jackson, Priscilla Riley; grandchildren, Johnathan Maness (Alexa), Ashley Althof (Eric); three great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild, two-step-grandchildren, five step-great grandchildren; one sister, Lorraine Williams, and many cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.
Mom was a woman of incredible strength and grace, our rock in good times and bad, known for her creative talent and desire to teach others. She lived a life filled with faith, love, and service. Her home was always open to all. She faced her final days with a serene acceptance, knowing her race was run, she had fought the good fight and finished well. It was time to go home. Mom has left a positive impact on her family, friends, and sweet Carthage community. She has been the source of our inspiration and our guide for how to live life well.
It has taken a village to care for mom on this journey of life. We are forever grateful for the loving care provided by our “new” family, Bonnie Brown, Joann Douglas, Teco Douglas-McLean, Linda Short and Lisa Volk. Much love and appreciation to mom’s hospice nurse, LaWanda Tanner, who gave her all, to help mom live her best life. We are all now sisters of the heart; family connected by our love for mom.
“The presence of her absence is everywhere.” Emily Dickinson. Good night, Mom, we’ll see you in the morning.
Funeral services will be held on Sunday, May 18, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. at Carthage United Methodist Church with Pastor Rhonda Campbell officiating. Burial will follow the service at Cross Hill Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Foundation of FirstHealth Hospice and Palliative Care, 150 Applecross Road, Pinehurst, NC 28374 or Carthage United Methodist Church 401 McReynolds St., Carthage, NC 28327.
Condolences may be left at PinesFunerals.com
The care of Dora Anne has been entrusted to Fry and Prickett Funeral Home.
The Southern Pines Fire Department posthumously honored firefighter Carol Dowd with the Order of the Long Leaf Pine Award on May 14 at Fire Station No. 82.
North Carolina’s highest honor celebrates individuals’ outstanding service and achievements benefiting the state and their communities. Its creation in 1964 led to over 21,000 people receiving the award. To be nominated, individuals must have a minimum of 30 years of service to the state.
The fire department nominated Dowd months ago and may update their protocol to nominate service members as soon as they are eligible.
Joining the department as a volunteer in 1976, Dowd was the first female firefighter to serve in Moore County. She passed away in March at the age of 69.
“Carol worked for the best interest of the fire department and was the first to greet and train newcomers,” Southern Pines Fire Chief Mike Cameron said at the ceremony.
Cameron read several of Dowd’s colleagues’ recommendations for the Order of the Long Leaf Pine Award and shared their most outstanding comments: “Decades as a pillar of strength…caring for the sick…unwavering support, embodies the full spirit of the fire department…inspiring leadership…commendable service.”
Assistant Chief Martin Dowd said his wife was a dedicated and inspirational leader, a steadfast member of the fire department, and a devoted person.
The couple attended high school together, and Martin said he didn’t know Carol then, but she said she knew him. They met again in 1978 when he joined the fire department.
Carol has one son, Bryon Smith, who is a retired North Carolina Highway patrolman.
Feature Photo: Martin Dowd accepts the Order of the Long Leaf Pine award on behalf of his late wife, Carol Dowd, at a ceremony at the Southern Pines Fire Station No. 82 on May 14.
~Article and photos by Sandhills Sentinel journalist Stephanie M. Sellers. Stephanie is also an English instructor at Central Carolina Community College. She is the author of When the Yellow Slugs Sing, Sky’s River Stone, GUTTERSNIPE: Shakespearean English Stage Play with Translation, Amagi, Amagi Study Guide, and EZ Essay Study Guide for Holocaust: A History.
To sign up for the free Sandhills Sentinel breaking news and weekly e-newsletter, please click here.
-
Local News2 months ago
Applications requested for Moore County Board of Adjustment
-
Local News2 months ago
Pregnant woman airlifted after Pinebluff crash
-
Local News2 months ago
Pregnant driver airlifted after Pinebluff crash
-
Local News1 month ago
What’s cooking in Moore County?
-
Entertainment2 months ago
Obituary for Luke Andrew Blanchard
-
Entertainment2 months ago
Obituary for Mary Ellen Mosey Mangas of Vass
-
Local News1 month agoTurning a new page: Progress made on new Aberdeen Library
-
Local News2 months agoDriver trapped, roadway shut down after Cameron crash