Graham Bunn, a standout basketball player for Coach Chuck Hess at Wake Forest-Rolesville High School who went on to play at Appalachian State and then professionally in Europe, will be the keynote speaker for this year’s 34th annual Trentini Foundation banquet on Saturday, April 10, at The Forks Cafeteria.
In late 1997 he and two college friends launched “46,” an apparel company that designs, manufactures and markets its own line of clothing to raise money and awareness for causes that impact our global community. The mission of 46 is “to unite 4 the 6 areas of need (abuse, poverty, disease, birth defects, educational disparities and unsafe drinking water).”
The aim is to take a basic necessity, like clothing, and use it to show friends, family members and people around the world that their needs have not been forgotten. 46NYC is dedicated to fighting disease, abuse, poverty, birth defects, malnutrition, inadequate education, and now, breast cancer.
The twelve finalists for the Trentini Foundation scholarships will be honored that evening and the winners of the scholarships at Wake Forest High and Heritage High will be announced. The banquet will begin at 6 p.m., and tickets are $25 each. Purchase them online at www.trentinifoundation.org or contact Kirke Hooper at kirkehooper@gmail.com to reserve a spot and pay at the door. Reservations must be made no later than Monday, April 7.
The Trentini Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization committed to promoting and rewarding excellence in the public non-charter schools of the Wake Forest area. It was begun in 1981 to honor Tony Trentini, who as a teacher and coach at Wake Forest High School was an exceptional role model for students.
The Trentini Scholarship is given annually to an outstanding graduating senior at Wake Forest High and at Heritage High. The recipients, chosen from a field of six, must have strong character, high academic accomplishment, a record of community volunteering and athletic participation. They must be accepted at a four-year college or university.
In 1981, a single $500 scholarship was awarded. Today, thanks to generous giving by individuals, groups and businesses, the winner at Wake Forest High receives a $30,000 scholarship and the five finalists each receive a $1,000 scholarship.
Another student at Wake Forest High is awarded a $1,000 scholarship to a community college.
The winner at Heritage High will be awarded a $5,000 scholarship. The foundation has a goal of providing the same level of scholarship awards at Heritage as are currently awarded to Wake Forest High recipients.
In addition to the scholarships, the foundation also makes awards through the J.L. Warren Fund to support and inspire the faculty at Wake Forest High. The funds provides grants for teachers to continue their educational training, maintain certification and learn new teaching techniques.
