WINTERVILLE—The Pitt Community College Foundation recently announced that a new endowed scholarship has been established to honor the memory of PCC graduate and former instructor Wilson Allsbrook.
Created by his widow, Bethany, the Wilson O. Allsbrook Memorial Endowed Scholarship will provide financial assistance to PCC students enrolled in the college’s Electronics Engineering Technology and Associate in Engineering programs. The scholarship will be awarded for the first time this fall and may be used toward educational expenses, including tuition, fees, books and required supplies.
A Virginia native, Allsbrook passed away at his home in Scotland Neck in March after a long, courageous battle with cancer. He was 78.
PCC Foundation Executive Director Beth Sigmon said Allsbrook’s life exemplified the transformative power of education and service. After losing both parents at an early age, he moved in with his maternal grandmother, developed a strong work ethic through a variety of jobs and eventually enrolled at PCC when it was known as Pitt Technical Institute.
“I never got to meet him personally, but from everything I’ve heard about him, Wilson Allsbrook loved his dogs, serving others and Pitt Community College,” Sigmon said. “He knew what it was like to work hard to support himself and get where he wanted to be in life.”
A 1974 PCC graduate, Allsbrook enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard and served as a radio operator on search-and-rescue missions from Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City. He later returned to PCC to teach Electronics Technology before moving to Mitchell Community College in Statesville to establish the school’s electronics program. He eventually joined Rockwell International, where he contributed to the development of early Global Positioning System (GPS) technology.
“Even after a 27-year career with Rockwell International, PCC still held a special place in Wilson Allsbrook’s heart,” Sigmon said. “According to Bethany, his wife of 56 years, he never lost his love for education or his desire to lend a helping hand to others trying to make their way in the world. An endowed scholarship that continues his legacy of supporting Pitt students is a fitting tribute.”
PCC Scholarships Coordinator Kim Simpkins said applicants for the Wilson O. Allsbrook Memorial Endowed Scholarship must have at least a 3.0 GPA. She said Allsbrook considered his time at PCC the foundation for his life’s success and noted that this is the second endowed scholarship the Allsbrooks have established with the PCC Foundation.
The Allsbrooks established the Lida and Owen Allsbrook Memorial Scholarship in 2019 to honor Wilson’s parents. It was fully endowed in 2022 and is awarded annually to a full-time PCC curriculum student with at least a 3.0 GPA.