The Cherokee Rodders Car Club recently awarded the first Bob Smith Memorial Vocational Scholarships. The first recipients of the scholarships funds are: John Jenkins; Chase Crowe; and Ryan Tranter.
Members of the Club established the scholarship in November 2015 to honor their first president and charter member, Bob Smith, an EBCI tribal member from the Birdtown Community. Smith retired from the Cherokee Boys Club after 30+ years of service and served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War.
Smith was well known as a “car craftsman and sculptor” all over the south, working out of his personal garage. He organized many car shows from the early 1980s until his death.
Each of the students received $1,000 in scholarship funds which were presented to them by Vice Chief Richard G. Sneed during the Rodders’ August meeting.
Jenkins, of Bryson City, is a student in the Southwestern Community College auto technology program. Crowe, of the Yellowhill Community, is a student in the automotive systems technology program at Southwestern Community College. Tranter, of the Big Cove Community, is a student in the Johnson & Wales University culinary arts program.
The Cherokee Rodders have been working to increase the scholarship funds and will continue to do so during the annual car show which will be held Nov. 4-5 at the Cherokee Indian Fairgrounds. If you would like to make a donation, please mail to: Cherokee Rodders, Inc., Scholarship Committee, P.O. Box 551, Cherokee, NC 28719.
Info: 497-2603
– Cherokee Rodders Car Club
