GREENSBORO, N.C. — Catawba Valley Community College (CVCC) students James White and Gabriel “Ben” Ou are the first to be awarded the Mike Bradley Memorial Scholarship. Both students received a $500 scholarship to fund their education.

White is enrolled in the Heating, Ventilating and Refrigeration diploma program and plans to complete it and an associate degree in general occupational technology next year. He has a number of years of work experience in the land surveying business and in the mechanical field as a pipe welder. He has achieved high honors at CVCC for three successive semesters. He and his wife have two children.

“James is one of the best students I’ve had,” said Heating & Air Conditioning faculty member Jody Lail. “He works hard in the classroom and takes extra time on lab exercises. The notes he takes and the questions he asks in class makes you proud to have a student of his caliber.”

Ou is enrolled in the Automotive Systems Technology associate degree program. He serves as secretary of the college’s SkillsUSA chapter and president of the Automotive Club. He was named Student of the Semester fall 2014 and was nominated by his peers to participate in the Student Leadership Academy. He also serves as chairman of the Hawksnest Project, a student-run pantry to provide food for hungry students.

“Ben is a perfect fit for this scholarship, not only because of his willingness to learn and help his classmates learn, but also because of his desire to help others in the community,” said Automotive Systems Technology Program Director and faculty member Shawn Mull. “Ben demonstrates generosity and character well beyond his years, and it will be a pleasure to see what the future holds for this fine young man of integrity.”

Established by the Association of Community College Facility Operations (ACCFO) in 1992, the Bradley Memorial Scholarship was named this year in honor of Mike Bradley by his long-time employer, Brady Services. Bradley served as an outspoken supporter of and advocate for ACCFO. In his honor, Brady Services funded the annual scholarship to be given to students at a member college pursuing a degree in automotive, air conditioning, heating and refrigeration, or industrial technologies through the ACCFO organization.