The hashtag #GivingPack is near and dear to all NC State students, parents, alumni and friends who’ve benefitted from or participated in the university’s annual Day of Giving fundraising campaign.
For NC State alumni James “Jake” Worthington, donor support was pivotal in helping him pursue his lifetime dream of becoming a recreational and commercial fisherman in the Outer Banks. Now his parents, Jon and Lori, are #GivingPack to help other NC State students pursue their dreams.
Jon and Lori, also NC state alumni, recently established the Worthington Family Scholarship Endowment in honor of their son. Jake graduated cum laude in May 2020 with a degree in parks, recreation and tourism management.
Jon and Lori were highly impressed by the instruction and support Jake received during his time at the College of Natural Resources. That includes the financial assistance Jake received from the Lena Anne Gordon Scholarship and the Dr. M. Roger Warren Park Management Scholarship.
“During the three years he was there, we witnessed his maturation process, both in mental and analytical thinking,” Jon said. “He had great professors; he always spoke highly of the ones who taught in his curriculum.”
In early 2019, Jake lost both of his grandfathers in a single month. His professors were incredibly supportive during this time period. Since graduation, Jake has been fulfilling his lifetime dream of fishing out of the Oregon Inlet Fishing Center in Nags Head, North Carolina.
Jake, now a recreational and commercial fisherman, has the ultimate goal of becoming a captain and owning his own charter boat. Last summer, he was the first mate on the charter boat, The Seaducer. Currently, Jake is the first mate on the charter boat, The Pelican. He is also a member of numerous fishing organizations where he won the “Angler of the Year” award and numerous tournaments as a teenager.
From 1986 to 1989, Jon and Lori attended NC State, where Jon majored in political science and criminal justice and Lori studied middle grades l education. Both thoroughly enjoyed their time at the University and are members of the Wolfpack Club and Lifetime Members of the NC State Alumni Association, alongside their son, Jake.
Upon graduation, Lori began a lifetime career as a middle school language arts teacher, teaching grades six through eight in the Camden, Dare and Pasquotank school systems. Jon went into law enforcement, working his way up from patrol deputy and narcotics investigator to chief deputy of the Camden County Sheriff’s Office.
“We just want to give people from northeast North Carolina a chance because this is a poor area; we’re undeveloped, underserved and it’s been that way forever,” Jon said.
The Worthington Family Scholarship Endowment will provide merit- and need-based scholarships to students who are pursuing an undergraduate degree in parks, recreation and tourism management. First preference will be given to students who reside in Camden County, North Carolina.
Second preference will be given to students who reside in any of the following North Carolina counties: Currituck, Pasquotank,Perquimans, Chowan, Gates, Hertford, Northampton, Halifax, Edgecombe, Bertie, Martin, Pitt, Beaufort, Washington, Tyrrell, Dare, Hyde, Greene, Lenoir, Craven, Jones, Pamlico and Carteret.
To make a contribution to the Worthington Family Scholarship Endowment on Day of Giving, please click here.
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