The Shipman Scholars Initiative
Scholarship support for students whose educational paths have required persistence, responsibility and the courage to keep moving when the original plan changed.
Annual Award: $500
For a college student whose path to higher education has not been traditional or easy, but who has demonstrated the determination to continue despite setbacks, responsibilities or circumstances that could have caused them to stop.
Applications Open: October 1, 2026
Application Deadline: February 15, 2027
Recipient Selected: March 31, 2027
Shipman Scholar Announced: April 2027
Award: Available for the 2027–28 academic year
The award also includes one year of periodic mentorship, recognition on this website and invitations to future professional and networking opportunities.
Established in Honor of Mary Cole
Annual Award: $1,000
This scholarship supports a newly credentialed GED graduate from Bladen Community College who has decided to continue into a college-level certificate, diploma or degree program at BCC.
It reflects Dr. Shipman’s own nontraditional educational journey and honors Mary Cole, his GED instructor at Bladen Community College, whose instruction and encouragement became part of the second chance that reopened his path to higher education.
GED → College → Opportunity
Application dates follow the annual BCC Foundation scholarship calendar.
