News & Observer | newsobserver.com | 2008 NCAA Men's Bracket

At N.C. Central University, Chancellor Charlie Nelms wanted recently to hold a reception honoring Provost Beverly Washington Jones, who concludes work as the university's chief academic officer at the end of June.

Jones, who said last month she was surprised and disappointed when Nelms, who arrived on campus last year, told her he was replacing her, declined the reception.

Instead, she asked that people contribute to a $25,000 endowed scholarship in her name.

"I thought that would be much better than giving me a party," Jones said Wednesday.

The university cannot donate state funds to such a scholarship, so Nelms wrote a check towards the effort and encouraged trustees to do likewise.

"This is a way we can recognize, in perpetuity, the contributions of Dr. Jones, by making education available to young people," Nelms said. "This is what Dr. Jones' career has been all about."

Jones said her family will likely fund much of the scholarship over three years. It will be a need-based scholarship for an incoming freshman interested in leadership and a career in administration, Jones said.