Jeff Minges, president and CEO of the Minges Bottling Group, plans to award part of $250,000 to BCCC | Eastern NC Now

    Jeff Minges, president and CEO of the Minges Bottling Group, a Pepsi franchise bottling company, plans to award $250,000 to eight N.C. community colleges, including Beaufort County Community College over the next five years. The full one-year scholarships will go to 144 recipients.

    Prior to his untimely death on June 9, Tom Minges (Jeff Minges' cousin), served as the company's CFO, and had worked for the Pepsi-Cola Minges Bottling Group during his entire career. Tom Minges was instrumental in establishing the financial plan to support the scholarships. All are saddened by the loss of such an involved and caring community leader.

    BCCC will receive $3,500 for the 2011-12 academic year. This equates to one $1,750 scholarship for a high school student attending BCCC this fall and spring and one $1,750 scholarship for a non-traditional student. Applicants must be enrolled to attend BCCC full time - which is at least 12 credit hours per semester. The Minges plan to double the number of scholarships next year.

    "We all know, with the economy what it is, people for the last several years have suffered," Jeff Minges said. "People who wanted a better education might not have thought it was available because of the economy," he added.

    Jeff Minges said the scholarship program will be structured in a way that will positively impact not only graduating seniors, but also adults seeking to further their education. The value of each scholarship will cover tuition and fees for one year for a full-time student.

    The community colleges receiving scholarship money fall within the Minges Bottling Group service area and include Beaufort County Community College, Coastal Carolina Community College, Craven Community College, Lenoir Community College, Martin Community College, Pitt Community College, Pamlico Community College, and Carteret Community College.

    Jeff Minges said at one time the Pepsi Minges Bottling Group was thinking of starting an endowment, but everyone agreed it would be better for the company to provide scholarships to help individuals.

    His family did it to stay involved with the community and show its commitment to education and Eastern North Carolina, he said.

    To determine eligibility, applicants will complete a scholarship package that will be submitted to a review panel designated by each of the colleges. The review panels will select recipients using an established set of criteria including residency in Eastern North Carolina, academic achievement, and unmet financial need, among others. BCCC scholarship applications may be obtained from the Foundation office, located in building 10 of the BCCC campus or online at http://www.beaufortccc.edu/founda/Application.pdf. The deadline for submission is July 1.

    Minges Bottling Group is a family owned and operated Pepsi-Cola franchise located in Ayden that has been distributing Pepsi-Cola products in Eastern North Carolina for more than 76 years.