Each August, Rowan Business Alliance, formerly the Salisbury-Rowan Merchants Association, sponsors a Backto-School Scholarship Promotion. The public is invited to register free-of-charge at Rowan Business Alliance member businesses and organizations to win these educational scholarships. This year, scholarships totaling $4,000 are being awarded.

Winners include: Rachel Karriker and Bryan Kluttz of Salisbury, who registered at Sam’s Car Wash on East Innes Street in Salisbury; Ashley Raper of Salisbury, who registered at Dee’s Jewelers in Salisbury; Kathryn Trivette of Salisbury, who registered at F & M Bank in Granite Quarry; Alyssa Sides of Cleveland, who registered at the office of John R. Crawford, M.D.; Brandi Sims of Salisbury, who registered at Ralph Baker’s Shoes; Kacie Goodnight of Salisbury, who registered at Crescent Pharmacy in Rockwell; and Tabitha Troglin of China Grove, who registered at SunTrust Bank.

Winners were chosen from the thousands of entries received from 55 sponsoring members of Rowan Business Alliance.

Each winner will receive a $500 educational scholarship that may be used for any accredited higher education beyond high school. No purchase was required to win.

Rowan Business Alliance was created by local businessmen in 1925 and is in its 80th year of operation. The promotion of quality educational support activities, such as these scholarships and the annual Rowan-Salisbury Spelling Bee, are signature events for the non-profit organization and part of its philosophy to return its profits to the local community.

The Rowan Business Alliance Education Committee currently is chaired by Rosie Allen of Rowan Partnership for Children. Other members are Janet Haynes of F&M Bank, Heidi Whitesell of Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, Dr. Wiley Doby of Rowan Salisbury Schools, Vernon Walters of Nazareth Children’s Home, Chanaka Yatawara of Salisbury Community Development Corporation, attorney Greg Jones, Linda James of Time Warner Cable, Janet Karriker of Bank of North Carolina, Summie Carter of Summersett Funeral Home, and Richard Perkins, Executive Vice President