The Pilot Club of Laurinburg gathered recently at the Clinton Inn for an annual awards ceremony designed to highlight outstanding achievement by those who have assisted the organization in its mission.

Hosted by club President Jenny Tippett, categories included the community service award, the Banner Project award, Green and Gold awards, and the Anchor Scholarship Award. The Pilot of the Year award was presented to Tippett, who expressed what "an honor" it was to receive the recognition.

"You are all the Pilots of the Year," Tippett told the gathering. "All of you deserve this."

Sylvia Stewart presented the Pilot Club Leadership Award to club member Doris Adams.

"One of the principles of Pilot International is service," Stewart said prior to presenting the award. "Our guidelines state that 'a nominee for the Leadership Award should be a person who has rendered outstanding service through her leadership in her club and community'. As a club, we have chosen such a person."

Stewart commended Adams on her "... expertise, steadfastness, trustworthiness, and... integrity" when bestowing the award on behalf of the organization.

"I am very undeserving of this," Adams said, "but I love you all. I am overwhelmed that you think this much of me. Thank you."

The guest speaker for the event was Virginia Ray, director of the "In As Much" project, which was begun in 2006 to provide meals to needy students.

"Four years ago a Scotland County principal was seeking help for students so hungry on Monday morning (having eaten school lunches all week but having no food during the weekend) that they couldn't focus," Ray said. "That's how the project was born."

Ray told the Pilots that the group began by distributing 50 bags of food one Friday, which soon grew to 135 and then 185 within two weeks. Ray said that on that very day they had distributed some 465 bags.

"We tell the children to only eat a half of what they have been given on Saturday, so that they can have some for Sunday as well," Ray said. "I doubt many follow those directions."

Ray said she was motivated by the thought that going to bed "knowing that a hungry child has fallen through the cracks and has not eaten is no way to get a good night's sleep."

Ray acknowledged a $500 contribution from the Pilot Club earlier this year.

"It is an exciting and a wonderful thing to help," Ray said.

Later in the program Ray was presented the Community Service award for her work. Other winners included Anchor Scholarship Award winner Brandi Cross and Green and Gold award winners Patty Napier and Joy Lindey.

The Banner Project awards for special education students was presented to Brenton Davis, Shyheim McKeithan, and Christopher Ring.

"Each year, the Pilot Club gives participating special education classes $100, with each student who created a winning banner presented a check for $50," Project Chair Nancy Shelley said. "The money that the teachers receive gets put back into the classrooms to purchase more supplies."

Teachers Terri Riddell, Nancy Williams, and Cory Cowan accompanied the students when they received their awards.

"It means a lot to receive this check and to have money left over for various activities such as a class picnic," Riddell said after accepting the award. "Every dollar means so much; thank you."

Club Public Relations Chairperson Sarah Logan presented Recognition of Media awards to both The Laurinburg Exchange and to WLNC radio for their coverage of Pilot Club events. In addition, Gary Gallman of WLNC was presented an honorary lifetime membership to the Pilot Club.

"You don't have to pay dues and you can come eat with us any time you want to," Tippett said.

"And I'm not even a woman," Gallman quipped, drawing laughter from the crowd.

Logan made a special presentation from her grandson, Lt. Mark Logan, whose squadron was serving in Iraq during Christmas. The Pilot Club sent two boxes of "goodies" to them and received a certificate of appreciation in return. Logan read the inscription on the plaque:

On February 18th, 2010, this certificate was flown over the skies of Iraq onboard an EA-6B Prowler from Iraqi Squadron VAQ 133 during 'Operation Iraqi Freedom' in honor of The Pilot Club of Laurinburg, NC... During this mission the Prowler support 1-98 Cavalry conducted combat operations against (enemy) forces."

The meeting closed with a recitation of the Pilot Club's Code of Ethics led by Pam Ashley.