By Maggie Beamguard
Insider Editor
A legacy scholarship established in 2024 in memory of Seven Lakes Kiwanian Buddy Spong has been awarded to its second recipient.
Ainsley Tryhane, a student in her first year at Sandhills Community College, was recognized at the Community College Scholarship Award Dinner in November, a celebration of scholarship donors and recipients.
Tryhane, who studies cosmetology at SCC, previously served as treasurer of the Union Pines High School Key Club while a student there. In addition to her leadership in the Key Club, she was a member of the National Honor Society. She was also one of three recipients from the Class of 2025 of the longstanding, annual Fred Seufert scholarship awarded by the Kiwanis Club of Seven Lakes each spring.
During Tryhane’s senior year, she received further accolades for a major fundraising project she choreographed through the school’s Key Club. As part of an effort by the club to raise awareness about different groups throughout Moore County, Tryhane focused on the military veterans community in recognition of her father’s 21 years in the Army. With a donation from The Heritage Flag Co. in Southern Pines, a raffle she helped organize raised $2,750 for the Joint Special Operations Association.
Tryhane expressed sincere gratitude for the scholarship award in a letter of appreciation. “Thanks to your generosity, I’m able to continue pursuing my passion for cosmetology with greater confidence and fewer financial worries,” she said. “I’ve always had a love for making people feel beautiful, confident, and cared for, and that’s what drew me to this career path.” She dreams of becoming a licensed cosmetologist and one day opening her own salon. “This scholarship helps me take real steps toward that dream, she said. “Your support reminds me that there are people who believe in my future, and that encouragement is incredibly powerful.
The scholarship in Spong’s name was first awarded in 2024 to Shakari McLean, enrolled in the SCC associate in arts program. With an interest in real estate and investing, McLean’s plans were to pursue marketing.
For many decades, the Kiwanis Club of Seven Lakes has invested in the higher education of local students through annual scholarships.
The Buddy Spong Memorial Scholarship honors the memory of a beloved educator and administrator who dedicated 31 years to SCC. Spong served in different roles during his tenure, including as dean of enrollment and then dean of students. He was known for his commitment to students and his tireless energy for life-long learning.
Following Spong’s death in 2024, Kiwanis members worked with the SCC Foundation to create and properly fund a scholarship through donations that would honor his legacy by supporting students for years to come.
Contact Maggie Beamguard at maggie@thepilot.com.
