New VGCC Scholarship established in memory of Granville County soldier
W. Christopher “Chris” Johnson’s life was devoted to service and helping others, and a new scholarship in his name at Vance-Granville Community College will continue to help local students for years to come.
A Granville County native and J.F. Webb High School graduate, Johnson was a 22-year-old private first class in the U.S. Army infantry serving in Iraq in 2007 when he was killed by an improvised explosive device. In the years that followed, his parents, Billy and Rhonda Johnson, sought to establish a lasting memorial to their only son.
“We have been thinking about it for several years,” Rhonda Johnson said. “We wanted to do something, but we couldn't immediately come up with a project that would carry on. We didn't want it to be a one-time deal.”
Recalling that Chris wanted to pursue a career in law enforcement or firefighting when he finished his military service, the Johnsons realized that they could help someone else with similar ambitions to obtain the education they needed. Billy Johnson discussed their interest in supporting students with Fred Wilson, a retired VGCC vice president, who recommended they speak with the college’s Endowment Fund office.
Recently, the Johnsons visited the college and formally established the Christopher Johnson Memorial Presidential Merit Award. In awarding the new scholarship, preference will be given to VGCC students who are from Vance or Granville counties, who are military veterans and who are enrolled in either the Criminal Justice or Basic Law Enforcement Training programs.
Mrs. Johnson recalled that her son was serving others long before he joined the military. “Christopher was just so adamant about helping people,” Rhonda said. When he was 15 years old, he joined the Antioch Volunteer Fire Department, and was also a member of the Police Explorers organization as a youth.
“His ultimate goal, he thought, was to serve his country,” Rhonda recalled. “We know he is still doing good today. With this scholarship, he continues to help others.”
“We will never forget Christopher Johnson’s heroic service to his community and to our entire nation," said Dr. Stelfanie Williams, president of VGCC. "Students of today and tomorrow who are following Chris into careers protecting and serving the public will receive education, inspiration and support thanks to his family’s generosity.”
The scholarship is the second created at VGCC in memory of a local soldier who lost his life in the Iraq War. Earlier this year, the family of Vance County native Spc. Lunsford B. Brown II established a memorial scholarship .
Through the Endowment Fund , VGCC has awarded more than 8,000 scholarships 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 Endowment Fund have often been used to honor or remember a person, group, business or industry with a lasting gift to education. For more information about the Endowment Fund, call (252) 738-3409.
Above: From left, VGCC Endowment director Eddie Ferguson, Rhonda Johnson, Billy Johnson and VGCC President Dr. Stelfanie Williams. (VGCC photo)
