Recipients of inaugural Samuel Taylor Life Sciences Scholarships named

NCBIO and the N.C. Community College System announced the recipients of the newly established Samuel M. Taylor Memorial Life Sciences Scholarship. The Samuel M. Taylor Scholarship was established at the North Carolina Community Colleges Foundation Inc. in memory of Sam Taylor, a founder and president of NCBIO, the trade association that supports life science companies in North Carolina.

The scholarships are awarded to students enrolled in agricultural biotechnology, biopharmaceutical technology, biotechnology, bioprocess technology, clinical trials research associate, facility maintenance technology, and medical laboratory technology programs in the state’s community colleges.

Three scholarships are being awarded this fall. The recipients are:

• Stephanie Alston of Wake Forest, who is studying clinical trials research at Durham Technical Community College
• Robert Voissem Jr. of Dudley, who is studying biotechnology at Wilson Community College
• Alex White of Plymouth, who is studying medical laboratory technology at Beaufort County Community College

“Sam’s legacy is a life sciences industry in this state that is one of the strongest anywhere in the world,” said NCBIO President Laura Gunter. “He knew that an educated and qualified workforce is needed to drive the discovery and innovation for which the industry is known. He especially wanted our state’s citizens to have the educational opportunities and resources they need to have outstanding careers in the life sciences.”

Taylor pushed to create the internationally recognized NCBioImpact training collaborative with the NC Community College System’s BioNetwork program.  Additionally, the Biomanufacturing Training and Education Center at North Carolina State University and the Biomanufacturing Research Institute and Technology Enterprise program at North Carolina Central University, are members of the training collaborative.

“North Carolina is a well-known leader in biotechnology, and the demand for skilled workers in this area continues to grow,” said Thomas A. Stith, president, N.C. Community College System. “This scholarship helps the community colleges to provide affordable educational opportunities to meet workforce needs for our state.”

To qualify, students had to, among other criteria, be enrolled in life sciences courses, maintain a cumulative grade point average at or above the level required for graduation, and submit an essay about their interest and goals in life sciences.