J.E. Barker
University Relations

MURFREESBORO, N.C.
Each year North Carolina Baptist entities honor people who have contributed to the individual organizations in unique ways through the North Carolina Baptist Heritage Awards Banquet. Sponsored by The Baptist State Convention of North Carolina and the North Carolina Baptist Foundation, the annual Heritage Awards gave Chowan University the opportunity to honor one of Hertford County’s biggest supporters—Mr. Ray Felton.

The size of Ray Felton’s heart has little to do with his grand stature. His heart comes from his generous nature and the way he genuinely cares about his employees, friends and family. Felton is a man who gives back, renowned as a man of service with a heart for the community.

“Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” – 2 Corinthians 9:7 (NIV)

Married with three children and four grandchildren, Ray Felton of Eure, NC, along with his son Brock, owns and operates Metal Tech in Murfreesboro, a NC STAR site for excellence in safety. He and his business are major supporters of the annual Hertford-Gates Relay for Life and Felton has served as a NC ambassador for the American Cancer Society.

In addition to Metal Tech’s lead corporate sponsorship of Chowan University Athletics, Felton is also an avid patron of fine arts and music at Chowan University, where he serves on the Board of Trustees. In recognition of their outstanding community service, selfless volunteerism and benevolent interest in others, Ray and Judy Felton were the 2007 recipients of Chowan’s Community Service Award.

The compassionate couple supports area schools, churches, 4-H programs and fire, police and rescue departments. They are sponsors of All4Kids Hunting programs, the Gates County Wounded Warrior Turkey Hunt, the Josh Lane Juvenile Diabetes Golf Tournament, the Jefcoat Museum, the NC Watermelon Festival, Gates County Ducks Unlimited, and the National Wild Turkey Federation. They host regular Bloodmobile drives, support Muscular Dystrophy, the American Heart Association, the Helene Knight Scholarship, Committee for Education Excellence-Gates County Schools and Partners for Education-Hertford County Schools. Felton also serves as a member of the Gates County Board of Education. The Feltons attend Eure Baptist Church.

The Felton family is certainly at the heart of the Hertford County community, and it is with great honor that Chowan University may recognize their devoted support through the 2016 North Carolina Baptist Heritage Award. Congratulations to the Felton family!

As one of the fastest growing universities in North Carolina for the past ten years, Chowan University, a Christian liberal arts university founded in 1848, enrolls more than 1,500 students each year and is located in the Historic Inner Banks community of Murfreesboro in Northeastern North Carolina. The university is in close proximity to the Outer Banks and Hampton Roads, Virginia. Chowan’s park-like campus features 390 acres including Lake Vann, the beloved “Squirrel Park” and the original McDowell Columns Building, erected in 1851 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Accredited with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Chowan offers over 80 undergraduate academic programs among The School of Arts and Sciences, The School of Education, The School of Fine & Applied Arts and The School of Business, and offers Masters Degrees through the School of Graduate Studies. Several departments are also individually accredited, such as Teacher Education Program’s accreditation by NCDPI and NCATE, as well as the Music program’s institutional accreditation by NASM. Chowan offers 18 varsity sports, as well as co-ed cheerleading, with 12 programs in the CIAA conference all with affiliation in the NCAA D-II and a number in affiliation with NCCAA.

For more information about Chowan University, visit www.chowan.edu or call 1-888-4-CHOWAN.