During a brief presentation April 30 at Johnston Medical Center in Smithfield, Georgia Pilkington, president of the group, handed out the awards, including a new scholarship provided by the family of a volunteer who passed away earlier this year.

Helen Coates of McGee's Crossroads volunteered for more than 20 years at the hospital.

Her husband, George, and their daughter, Ann Benson, were on hand to congratulate the scholarship recipient, Mary Catherine Pilkington of Smithfield.

Pilkington, the daughter of Greg and Melissa Pilkington, is a senior at Smithfield-Selma High School. She plans to attend Methodist University in the fall and pursue a degree in nursing.

"She was always cheerful and willing to help others," said Georgia Pilkington, who volunteered with Coates several years ago. "She was committed to her job and considered it to be a privilege to be a volunteer. Her soft demeanor was her strength."

Other scholarship recipients are Katherine Banks of Clayton, Jason Creech of Selma, Chris Dewberry of Selma, Lindsey Roberts of Four Oaks and Brittany Stephenson of Smithfield.

Banks, the daughter of Mike and Dianna Banks, is a senior at Clayton High School. She plans to attend East Carolina University and pursue a degree in nursing.

Creech, the son of Connie Creech, is attending Johnston Community College. He is studying nuclear medicine.

Dewberry, the son of Don and Donna Dewberry, is a senior at Princeton High School. He plans to attend UNC-Chapel Hill and follow a pre-med program of study.

Roberts, the daughter of Anthony and Georgia Roberts, is a recent graduate of Lighthouse Christian Academy at McGee's Crossroads. She plans to attend Fayetteville Tech and pursue a degree in medical sonography.

Stephenson works as a nursing assistant at Johnston Medical Center in Smithfield. She plans to enter nursing school in the fall.

Johnston Health has more than 200 volunteers who give of their time at the hospital, the outpatient center in Clayton and the SECU Hospice House. They raise money throughout the year by selling raffle tickets and by holding sales of books, jewelry and other items.