Don and Audrey Bentley Scholarship Fund

Criteria

A graduating senior at Watauga High School who exhibits academic excellence, leadership, personal effort and good citizenship who plans to attend a four-year college or university.  The following qualifications shall receive preference: Individuals intending to pursue a major in Environmental Studies or a major in Education. Financial need may be considered but is not given preference. 

About Don and Audrey Bentley

Don and Audrey Bentley were both born in 1935 and both graduated from Blowing Rock High School and attended Appalachian State University. Dr. Bentley was a member of the US Air Force and earned his doctorate in education at Virginia Tech. During his career, he served as principal of both Blowing Rock School and Watauga High School, assistant superintendent of Watauga County Schools and superintendent of the Cherokee County School System.

Most of her career was as an executive assistant with the Robbins family, who developed Carolina Caribbean, Tweetsie Railroad, Hound Ears Club and Elk River Club. Audrey was a licensed North Carolina real estate broker and worked in Cherokee County before she retired.

Education was importation to both Don and Audrey. Don died in 2005 and Audrey in 2019. After her death, the Don and Audrey Bentley Memorial Scholarship was established in support of Watauga High School and Watauga Innovation Academy graduates.