By By Tim Cottrell
The Progressive Civic and Recreational Club (PCRC) has been a big part of the lives of many residents of Atmore for many years.
This January the PCRC made the lives of six college students and their families much easier.
The PCRC, while holding its annual Food and Bowl Football Bash on New Year's Day, awarded six $500 scholarships to 2004 graduates of Escambia County High School.
Phillip Sharp, a student at the University of Alabama; Dereke Martin and Christopher Simpson, students at Alabama A&M University; Bobby Montgomery, a student at the University of West Alabama; Emily Delmore, a student at Stillman College and Cassandra Jones, a student at Wallace State Community College, were each awarded the scholarships.
The funds for the scholarship came from Exxon-Mobil and from a donation by Connie Torrence King in honor of her grandmother, who was a teacher in Opelika. Two of the students (Montgomery and Delmore) were awarded the scholarships by virtue of their pursuit of teaching degrees.
Herbert Payne, principal of Escambia County Middle School and Executive Secretary of PCRC said he hopes the club will be able to continue giving scholarships.
"We would like to continue doing this," he said. "We hope to continue to be able to get donations from Exxon-Mobil and from individual citizens."
Payne also outlined the criteria used for the scholarships.
"The students needed to have an 18 on their ACT and at least a 2.5 GPA in high school," he said. "They could have a 16 on the ACT, but they would have to score a 20 on at least one section to qualify in that situation."
In addition to this first-ever scholarship award, the PCRC has always been active in the community. The club's mission statement outlines several other functions the group performs.
It states that the group, incorporated in 1960, has worked jointly with the city government on many municipally supported projects. It also outlines several charities PCRC has been involved with, including the United Fund, March of Dimes, The American Cancer Society and the American Heart Association. The club also supports needy families.
Payne assured everyone that the PCRC was not a one-trick pony.
"We do a lot of work with the United Fund and have been the driving force for several United Fund fundraisers in the northern section of Atmore," Payne said. "We also support summer-league basketball and provide equipment for Houston Avery Park."
Payne said the ultimate goal was to be useful to Atmore.
"I know it says 'recreational' in our name, but we are more about civic responsibility and helping the people of Atmore," he concluded.