The Doug & Maureen King Scholarship to Support Students with Learning Differences

By: Michelle Wagner

In 2023, when Doug and Maureen King of Kitty Hawk first began considering the establishment of a scholarship through the Outer Banks Community Foundation, they knew that supporting students with learning differences would be a key feature of any award they would offer.

Originally from Massachusetts, the Kings moved to Dare County 40 years ago after falling in love with the area while on vacation. Doug began his career with the North Carolina Department of Transportation in 1985, and Maureen began her teaching career in Dare County Schools shortly after, starting as an assistant in the special education department at Kitty Hawk Elementary School, where she had been volunteering while their two sons, Brandon and Travis, were in school there.

The following year, Maureen started her career as a classroom teacher at Kitty Hawk, primarily teaching second grade over the next three decades before retiring in 2016. During her tenure, she was recognized as Teacher of the Year, was instrumental in implementing the phonics program Fundations through her participation in the North Carolina Teacher Academy, and also served as a reading specialist for Dare County Schools’ Teacher on Loan program for several years.

“I was an elementary school teacher, but when I was in college, I was certified in learning disabilities. This became a special interest of mine because members of my family struggled with learning to read,” said Maureen. She added that she began tutoring children with reading challenges while teaching and continues to do so. She also tutored children in the Hispanic community, first through Mano Al Hermano and then through the Children and Youth Partnership for Dare County.

Doug retired from the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s Contract Monitoring and Reporting Unit in 2014 after more than 30 years of service. Upon retiring, the couple began looking for ways to give back to the community. With the encouragement and inspiration from their long-time friend Ray White, the Doug and Maureen King Scholarship Fund was born.

After finalizing the details of the fund with the Outer Banks Community Foundation, 2025 will mark the first year that the new scholarship will be awarded. The Doug and Maureen King Scholarship gives preference to those with a learning difference, for kids who “struggle a little bit.” It is open to high school graduates and home-schooled students with GED credentials from Dare County, Ocracoke and Currituck beaches. College of The Albemarle graduates will also be considered for two-year post-COA scholarships.

Other criteria include demonstrating financial need and planning to enroll full-time in a two- or four-year accredited college, university, or community college. To be considered for renewal, the student must submit an application that demonstrates passing grades and continued full-time enrollment.

While Maureen points out that the scholarship was Doug’s idea, Doug is quick to note that education has been such a big part of Maureen’s life that it makes sense to give back in this way.

“When we are out in the community, her past students will come up and hug her and say, ‘Oh, Ms. King.’ It always amazes me,” Doug said.

In the end, both Doug and Maureen envision their scholarship being one for students who may not always excel when it comes to grades, but could use that extra hand up as they continue their academic lives after high school.

The Outer Banks Community Foundation encourages local students to apply for the more than 70 scholarship programs it manages. The deadline for all applications is 11:59 pm on Monday, February 24, 2025.

To learn more about the Community Foundation’s scholarships, visit OBCF.org/scholarships.

About the Outer Banks Community Foundation: The Outer Banks Community Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization committed to fostering philanthropy and supporting local causes. Through its charitable funds and grant programs, the Foundation strives to enrich the quality of life for residents of the Outer Banks.