Five students from Halifax County received notice recently they won the prestigious Ethel W. Crawley Memorial Education Fund Scholarship, and thus a fully paid, four-year journey at the North Carolina college or university of their choice.

Winners this year are De’Andre Jacobs and Jessica Carter, both of Northwest Halifax High, Jessica Eason of Roanoke Valley Early College, ShaQuanda Williams of Weldon High School and John “Hart” Evans of Roanoke Rapids High School.

“There were more than 80 applicants for the Crawley scholarships this year,” said William S. Crews III, who manages the Crawley trust that furnishes the scholarship.

This four-year scholarship is open to Halifax County students who maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.5 and other criteria. It was established by Ethel Crawley, a former school teacher.

“She just really believed in education and the arts,” Crews said. “She did an incredible, incredible thing (in establishing these scholarships).”