— Portions of this article were printed in the June 2025 issue of The Villager newsletter and shared at the June 3, 2025, Scholarship Night event, thanks to Katie Proffit, Assistant Director, Human Resources, and Jenn Barker, Senior Director of Human Resources.

The featured highlight video of Scholarship Night is available on YouTube – Scholarship Night 2025 Link

On June 3, Covenant Village presented education scholarship awards to nine employees who serve in the Health Center and Dining Services.

Our 2025 Covenant Village Education Scholarship recipients collectively received $16,000 in support of their education, certifications, training, and professional development.

Employee scholarships are made possible through charitable donations to Covenant Village through the Workforce Investment pillar of the Legacy of Care giving program. The following employees received their financial awards at the third annual Scholarship Night ceremony and reception, attended by residents, staff, and the recipients’ family members.

Delayna Edwards, Server – CV CARES Youth Scholarship, $1,000 – Delayna began working as a part-time server on February 6, 2024. Her mother, Kim, has worked as a CNA at Covenant Village for over 17 years, and Delayna’s younger sister, Lily, works in the Health Center as a dietary aide. Delayna graduated from Ashbrook High School with a 4.3 GPA and is most proud of graduating from both high school and Gaston College at the same time and then being accepted to Guilford College, where she plans to major in English and media studies. Delayna shares that her parents have inspired her the most because they have always encouraged and supported her in whatever she chose to do.

Tremell Reid, Server – CV CARES Youth Scholarship, $1,000 – Tremell was also hired on February 6, 2025, to provide part-time service in dining. He graduated with a 3.46 GPA from Ashbrook High School, where he participated in wrestling and football. He says his mother is the person who has influenced him the most. She taught him how to be strong and great in everything he does, including helping our residents and making them happy, which he says is his favorite thing about working at Covenant Village. Tremell will attend Fayetteville State University in the fall to study business management and marketing. He hopes to graduate and become very successful so that he can travel and buy his mom a house.

Lakesha Blalock, CNA – Leigh Robinson Scholarship, $2,500 – February 6, 2024, was a magical day for hiring at Covenant Village because that day also welcomed Lakesha Blalock, a full-time CNA. Lakesha and her mother, Brittany, were both hired as CNAs on the same day over a year ago. Laskesha is a proud mother of four and a nana to eight beautiful grandchildren. Her family is a big part of her motivation to continue her education and build a fulfilling career in nursing. She says her family inspires her every day to keep pushing toward her goal, especially her daughter, Brittany, who also works at Covenant Village. Brittany is on track to graduate from nursing school in the fall. Watching her determination and strength has motivated Laskesha to keep pushing forward with her own goal, no matter the obstacles. She is very proud that she has been able to balance school, work, and family at the same time, especially at the age of 49. She says she is living proof that it is never too late to follow your dreams and invest in your future. Lakesha will attend ECPI University to obtain her practical nursing license.

Charline Roseboro, CNA – Nursing Education Scholarship, $2,500 – Charline will also attend ECPI University to obtain her practical nursing license on her journey to become a registered nurse. She came to work at Covenant Village as a CNA over two years ago and is responsible for many wonderful employee referrals. She says her parents influenced her the most. She learned from them that you must work hard to succeed in life. She credits them for the work ethic she has established. In fact, her mother is still working at the age of 77. Charline has a 15-year-old son who is very active in school and sports. Her son is her proudest accomplishment because of who he is and because she was told she may not be able to have children. She considers him her miracle son. Charline says that her favorite thing about working at Covenant Village is working with the residents and the amazing staff.

Stephanie Wellman, Director of Nursing – Judy M. and George R. Miller Scholarship, $2,500 – Stephanie will attend the University of Wilmington, where she plans to earn her master’s degree in health care administration. She plans to keep growing professionally by pursuing her Doctor of Nursing Leadership degree and enrolling in the Administrator-in-Training program. Stephanie has worked at Covenant Village since 2019. She began as a part-time LPN Floor Nurse, then moved to full-time Resident Nurse, then Nurse Educator/Infection Control Nurse, and currently serves as the Director of Nursing. Throughout her life, Stephanie has accomplished many things professionally and academically, but her proudest accomplishment is her son, Holden, her miracle child. Holden amazes her every day with his accomplishments, his dedication to school and bowling, and his compassion for others.

Rachel Hibberts, LPN – William A. and Elizabeth O. Current Scholarship, $2,500 – will attend Cleveland Community College, where she will earn her associate of nursing degree. Since she began working at Covenant Village in 2022, Rachel has been recently promoted from Floor Nurse to Day Shift Charge Nurse. She has been married for 29 years to Bennett, and they have two children, Joey and Chloe, and two grandchildren. They are excited to share that they have a third grandchild on the way. Her children and grandchildren influence her every day because they are the reason for everything in her life. She credits her family for helping her to complete her LPN, which she says is one of her greatest accomplishments.

Ranley Clayton, Dietary Aide – Sarah Leigh Continuing Education Scholarship, $750 – While in high school, Ranley began working at Covenant Village in 2021 as a part-time server. When she graduated from high school in 2024, she was awarded a CV CARES Youth Scholarship, which she applied to her studies at Gaston College to pursue a degree in Nutrition. Her 2025 education scholarship will enable her to attend online classes to earn her CDM (Certified Dietary Management). Ranley’s mother, Ashley, and her grandmother, Linda, also work at Covenant Village.

Julia Kotecki, Director of Dining Services – Sarah Leigh Continuing Education Scholarship – Julia began her employment as a server at Covenant Village when she was in high school. After graduating from college, she returned to Covenant Village as the dietitian and Health Center Food & Nutrition supervisor. Later, she was promoted to Assistant Director and now serves as the Director of Dining Services. Julia plans to use her scholarship to attend the Food and Nutrition Conference & Expo, where she will gain exposure to the latest research in senior nutrition, innovative culinary techniques, and strategies to support special dietary needs.

Tray Mobley, Health Center Dining Services Supervisor – Sarah Leigh Continuing Education Scholarship, $750 – Tray came to Covenant Village in 2019 and quickly impressed leadership with his abilities and talents, which moved him to the position of Executive Check. When the Health Center dining room renovations began, Tray was the best fit to supervise the Health Center dining operations. His 2025 education scholarship will cover the costs of online classes to earn his CDM (Certified Dietary Management).

The ability to offer education scholarships fosters a highly skilled and motivated workforce. Our employees know that Covenant Village values their loyalty and dedication. Every effort is made to promote professional development and career aspirations, which elevate the quality of services and care our residents receive, as well as contributing to improved employee retention and satisfaction.

The financial assistance provided to our scholars reflects our commitment to excellence and community engagement, reinforcing our reputation and four-year designation as a Great Place to Work. This ultimately creates a culture of continuous learning, growth, and improvement that benefits our residents, employees, and the community. Please join us in offering congratulations to our scholars and our sincere, heartfelt appreciation to all who made these scholarships possible!

To establish a named scholarship, please contact Dale Melton, CEO, or email [email protected]. To donate to the general scholarship fund, please visit our online Giving Page.