Draughn High School 2026 graduate Avie Helton was recently named this year’s recipient of the Allen and Rexanna Lowman scholarship, which is distributed through the Community Foundation of Burke County.
Helton (pictured above with Rexanna Lowman) starting this fall will attend Catawba Valley Community College, where she will play softball and plans to pursue a two-year science degree with the goal to move on toward a degree as a physical therapy assistant. Helton was an all-state, all-district, all-conference, and all-county pitcher for Draughn as the Lady Wildcats advanced to the NCHSAA 3A West Regional championship series this past spring, setting a school record for wins. Helton was also named the pitcher of the year for Burke County and among all N.C. District 7 3A players.
The Allen and Rexanna Lowman Scholarship is open to any senior graduating from Draughn or East Burke high schools who plans to pursue a two- or four-year degree. Preference is given to a student-athlete.
Rexanna Lowman is a lifelong educator who is a former East Burke High School principal before going on to work in the Burke County Public Schools’ central office. Allen Lowman died at age 70 in March 2023. He was also involved in education, teaching and coaching at Salem Junior High School, Valdese Junior High School, East Burke High School, and Heritage Middle School, where the football field last fall was named in his honor.
The previous winners of the scholarship include Jacob Dellinger of East Burke (2024) and Jacob Mull of Draughn (2025).
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