New VGCC Scholarship pays tribute to former Vance County Schools superintendent
Kay Currin (VGCC Foundation), Dr. Rachel Desmarais (VGCC President), Susan Adcock, Eddie Ferguson (VGCC Foundation Director)
The family of the late J. Wayne Adcock, an educator who served as superintendent of Vance County Schools for six-and-a-half years, has established a new scholarship in his memory at Vance-Granville Community College. Adcock passed away on November 1, 2020, at the age of 73.
In awarding the Jerry Wayne Adcock Memorial Scholarship, preference will be given to VGCC students who are Vance County residents. Except for his college days, Adcock was a lifelong resident of the county and was devoted to his community.
His widow, Susan Adcock, and their son, John, wrote that “Wayne Adcock knew first-hand the value of a good education. He grew up in the back of a country store and attended Aycock School for twelve years, graduating in 1965. His path to college owed a lot to winning a scholarship dedicated to children of military veterans.”
Adcock attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he earned a bachelor’s degree before returning to Henderson to teach. He later also earned a master’s degree in Education and an Educational Specialist degree from East Carolina University.
During his long career with the Vance County Schools from 1969 through his retirement in December of 2002, Adcock was a teacher, assistant principal and principal at all grade levels, capping off his career as the superintendent.
“He always enjoyed talking with students about their future and encouraging them to further their education,” Susan and John Adcock added. “Nothing pleased him more than to see a former student and find out that they had made good choices and gotten an education. He would be so pleased about this scholarship. Wayne knew that financial aid can determine for many students if they are able to continue their education. Helping one person further their education can change a life, and even a family, and Wayne would be pleased to contribute to that effort.”
Adcock was an active member at Carey Baptist Church in Henderson and was actively involved with the Henderson Family YMCA. After his retirement, he served on the boards of the Vance County Public School Foundation and the Vance County Department of Social Services.
VGCC Foundation Executive Director Eddie Ferguson thanked the Adcock family for their generosity, saying, “Wayne Adcock loved his community and the students of Vance County, and we are honored that his loved ones have established a scholarship which will help students for years to come. Empowering students to continue their education is an ideal way to remember a great educator like Wayne.”
“This new scholarship will carry on Wayne Adcock’s legacy of servant leadership, inspiration and caring for students,” said Dr. Rachel Desmarais, VGCC’s president. “We extend our appreciation to the Adcock family for supporting Vance-Granville’s current and future students.”
The VGCC Foundation (formerly known as the Endowment Fund) has enabled more than 9,700 scholarships to be awarded to students since 1982. Scholarships have been endowed by numerous individuals, industries, businesses, civic groups, churches and the college’s faculty and staff. Tax-deductible donations to the VGCC Foundation have often been used to honor or remember a person, group, business or industry with a lasting gift to education. For more information, call (252) 738-3409.
