SANFORD, N.C. - Dr. Marty and Linda Pate of Sanford have established a new scholarship -- The Doris Sharpe, LPN, and Tess Jordan, DVM, Endowment -- at Central Carolina Community College. The Pates have established the endowment to benefit students in the CCCC Nursing and Veterinary Technology programs.

The Pates were inspired to assist the Nursing program to honor the late Doris Sharpe, who served as a nurse at Central Carolina Hospital for many years. Dr. Pate said Mrs. Sharpe was like a mother to him -- calling her Mama Doris. "I learned so much from her about how to treat each patient with true dignity and respect. She was an inspiration and example to me and so many others," he said.

The Pates' daughter, Dr. Tess Pate Jordan, is the head Veterinarian at The Animal Hospital at Lake Brandt in Summerfield, N.C., and has often commented to them about the shortage of veterinary technicians. Dr. Marty Pate said, "Nurses and Vet Techs are the backbone of their respective health care professions. Without them, there is no high quality health care. We hope this scholarship will, in some small way, help strengthen that backbone."

Dr. and Mrs. Pate have lived in Sanford since the 1980s.

Mrs. Pate, now retired, is well recognized for her years of training horses and teaching horseback riding in the area.

Dr. Pate, a 1981 graduate of the Wake Forest University School of Medicine, practiced medicine in Sanford from 1986 until his retirement in 2018. Specializing in Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine, he was the first medical subspecialist to come to Sanford and founded Mid Carolina Gastroenterology.

In addition to their daughter Tess, they have two additional children -- Lt. Colonel Matthew Pate, serving in the U.S. Air Force, and foster son Michael Brosnick, manager of Lisi's restaurant in Pinehurst.

"Sanford and Lee County is an incredible community. So many people serving in so many ways. It's just a privilege to live here among them. For us, this endowment is an investment in the future of our community. By contributing to the education of the young people of the community, we lift them up and they in turn will lift up our community," said Dr. Pate.

"Dr. and Mrs. Pate are remarkable and have continuously given of themselves to this community, North Carolina and beyond," said Dr. Emily C. Hare, CCCC Foundation Executive Director. "The Foundation is grateful that they have chosen to honor two very special people, Dr. Tess Pate Jordan and Ms. Doris Sharpe, with this endowment. It will financially assist students in both our VMT and Nursing programs. What an honor it is for the Foundation to have these two women honored by the Pates through this scholarship. The Pates continue to change lives daily!"

The CCCC Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization affiliated with, but independent of, the college. It receives donations of money and equipment on behalf of CCCC and uses them to promote the educational mission of the college and assist students through scholarships and grants.

For information on giving to the CCCC Foundation, contact Dr. Emily C. Hare, Executive Director of the CCCC Foundation, 919-718-7230, or ehare@cccc.edu.