9/13/07
Manning High FFA, Stokes-Craven Dodge begin scholarship initiative
By Kris Kallies

KRIS KALLIES/Manning Times

From left to right: Manning High School FFA President Nate Lyles, FFA Adviser Micheal Haynes, Stokes-Craven Dodge owner Danny Craven, Stokes-Craven Dodge salesman Dwayne Thompson, FFA Vice-President Kiera Walker kick off the FFA Hometown Scholarship Program.

Manning High School’s Future Farmers of America organization and Stokes-Craven Chrystler, Jeep, Dodge auto center kicked off the Hometown Scholarship Program to raise scholarship funds for high school students Thursday.

The kick-off event is the first of many events Manning High School’s FFA and Stokes-Craven will host in the coming weeks to raise money for the scholarship fund, according to Manning High School teacher and FFA sponsor Micheal Haynes.

The scholarship program, now in its fifth year, has raised more than $3 million for high school students across the country, Haynes said. This year he said the FFA hopes to raise at least $1 million nationally.

Individuals from the local community contribute to the scholarship fund by purchasing raffle tickets at $5 a piece for the chance to win a new truck.

One hundred percent of all donations will go toward the scholarship fund, Haynes said.

Dennis Craven, owner of Stokes-Craven Dodge, agrees the scholarship program is a good idea.

“This scholarship program is a good way for the Dodge Company to give back to the local community,” Craven said.

Haynes said the initiative was started between Dodge and the FFA nationally five years ago.

“Local Dodge distributors have to sponsor FFA for one year to help take part in school fundraising programs,” Haynes said. “A lot of distributors don’t do it because it can get expensive, so we’re glad Mr. Craven has agreed to help us out.”

Manning High School FFA President Nate Lyles and Vice-President Kiera Walker attended the kick-off event with Haynes, the three of them taking the first donation from Craven.

The scholarship drive will end on Oct. 12, with the truck appearing at several places in Manning, including several Manning High School football games, the dealership and in front of Wal-Mart.

Haynes said the truck will be given away this December.