Ms. Kayren Brantley in honor of her parents Warren and Rebecca Shiver

Kayren S. Brantley established the Warren and Rebecca Shiver Endowed Scholarship Fund in April of 2001 to honor her parents. Ms. Brantley graduated from Gaston College and then went on to earn a degree in pharmacology from UNC-Chapel Hill. She is a registered pharmacist and owner of White Star Pharmacy in Troy, NC.

The Shiver family lived in Bessemer City for many years during which time several family members went to Gaston College. Brantley’s mother, Rebecca Shiver, was a 29 year-old mother of four when she started at Gaston College in 1965, following an auto wreck that left Warren Shiver critically injured. “Mother realized that she would have a hard time supporting our family if something happened to Dad,” Brantley said. “So she went back to school with the full blessing and support of Daddy and the rest of us kids.”

Rebecca Shiver earned an associated’s degree at Gaston College and then went to Sacred Heart to complete her degree in education. Shiver earned a master’s degree from Appalachian State University through an extension program at Gaston College. She retired in May 2001, after 30 years of teaching in elementary schools in Gaston and Montgomery counties.

Brantley, who announced the establishment of the scholarship at her mother’s retirement party, said helping other Gaston College students was the best gift she could give her parents. Her generosity will provide financial assistance to students in perpetuity.