PRCC Pearl River County Scholarship Steak Dinner fundraiser was held on Thursday, March 27. The event proceeds will fund scholarships for local high school seniors.

Pearl River Community College President Dr. William Lewis was the guest speaker for the event.

“We are committed to providing quality educational and service opportunities for all who seek them,” Lewis said.

“These scholarships that are funded through the Pearl River County Alumni Chapter are one way that we can achieve our goal.”

Ernie Lovell, PRCC Development Foundation director explained that there are four alumni chapters for the six counties that the college primarily serves.

One chapter serves Pearl River County, one serves Forrest and Lamar Counties, one serves Jefferson Davis and Marion County and one serves Hancock County.

“A major goal for each chapter is to fund student scholarships for each high school in their county,” Lovell said. “Events like this helps fund a scholarship for a student graduating from Pearl River Central, Picayune Memorial and Poplarville High Schools.

Candace Harper, the coordinator for the PRC Alumni Chapter, said the event in Picayune was so successful that the chapter raised enough funding to pay for spring and fall semester.

“We will be providing a scholarship for a full year,” Harper said.

“This is exceptional to have this kind of support for our high school students during this tough economic time. We actually see a greater need from students from Pearl River County than any other county that enrolls in our college.”

Harper said the scholarship fund is something that is worked on throughout the year, so anyone who missed the event is welcome to contact her at 601-403-1183 and make a donation.

“The more we build the fund up, the more scholarships we can give to deserving students,” Harper said.