Brent's Life
Early Life
Brent was born in Mount Airy in 1987. He grew up in a rural community and enjoyed roller blade skating, go-cart riding, and playing outdoors with his friends. He attended Salem Baptist Church in Dobson, NC, and was active in the Team Kids youth group. He accepted Christ as his Savior at the age of 7, after discussing this with his grandfather. He was baptized at the age of 8. His parents were divorced, but he remained close to both of them. When Brent was 12, his mother remarried and he moved to Virginia Beach, VA. He made friends quickly. He played baseball. He became an avid BMX bike rider, a talented guitar player and singer (even composing a few songs and lyrics), an accomplished snow-boarder, and considered himself a "hustler" at the pool table.
HIS IMAGE Mission Team
At the age of 15, Brent was attending Atlantic Shores Baptist Church in Virginia Beach. He became a member of the HIS IMAGE mission team. In the summer of 2002, Brent went on a mission trip to Tennessee to provide community service and share the gospel of Jesus Christ. He, himself, became convicted that he had been making wrong choices, and had not been living the life Jesus wanted him to live. This was a turning point in his life, and the beginning of the exceptional young man he would become. Brent went on another mission trip to Brazil with the HIS IMAGE mission team. He was on the “slam dunk” ministry which was used as an avenue to share God’s love with children of Brazil. He stated that this trip was the greatest experience of his life.
Brent's Legacy
Many of Brent’s friends have shared that he was indeed a very special young man, especially during the last year of his life. They have told stories of his extraordinary sense of humor (even in the school classroom) and his love for life. Many have shared personal ways that he touched them with acts of kindness and compassion. His friends have said that he took public stands against teenage drinking and abortion. Brent was also known for his intellect, and was featured for two consecutive years in “Who’s Who Among American High School Students”.
Brent’s life ended tragically at the age of 17, in an auto accident. He lives in Heaven now, and in the hearts of all who had the opportunity to love him.
The Emblem's Design and Meaning
Brent's Witness
Brent went to see the Mel Gibson movie, “The Passion of the Christ”, with his youth group from Kempsville Baptist Church. When asked what he thought of the movie, he said that he took it very seriously and “personally”, meaning that he believed that Jesus suffered, and died a brutal death for him. Because of Jesus’ sacrificial death, Brent felt that he did not do enough for Jesus, and wanted to change that by being a witness for Him. He designed this very meaningful emblem to express this belief and desire.
The RED in the emblem represents the blood Jesus shed on the cross for the forgiveness of sin. The BLACK areas represent the darkness of sin, and they are different sizes to characterize the diversity of sins, and to include all sins. The WHITE areas represent the purity and forgiveness that Jesus bought with his death on the cross. The WHITE areas completely match the BLACK areas to signify that Jesus’ death covers all sins completely, and through acceptance of His crucifixion, everyone can be forgiven for all of their sins, no matter how many, or how bad.
The number seven is a number illustrating “completeness” in the Bible, thus the design has seven points to indicate that Jesus completed His redemptive act for sinful mankind through His death and resurrection. Brent’s ambition was to have this emblem tattooed on his wrists, where Jesus took the nails for him. He felt that when he was tempted to do something that was not pleasing to God, that the tattoo would remind him to be obedient to God’s commands. Brent also believed that the tattoo would attract attention and cause him to be a witness to others about his faith. Brent did not get the tattoo (primarily because he did not have parental permission). However, the witness of his emblem remains and continues.
The Bible tells us that we are all sinners and have fallen short of the glory of God. The penalty for our sins is eternal death (Hell). Even though we are sinners, God loves us and sent Christ to die for us (take our penalty), so that we may be saved. It is by His grace that we are saved, and not because of anything that we can do ourselves. If we confess with our mouth that Jesus died for us, and believe in our heart that God raised Him from the dead, the Bible says that we will be saved. Then, we can spend eternity in Heaven with Him. Brent knew this truth and wanted to be a witness for the Christ who died for him.(Romans 3:23, 6:23, 5:8, 10:9-10, 10:13)
Scholarship Information
Requirements to apply for scholarship:
- Must be current high school senior.
- Must have applied to institution of higher education; college, university, or technical school.
Applications for the scholarship must include all of the following:
- Name and address of student applying for scholarship.
- Essay typed or written by the student. The essay must be legible, 1 to 2 pages in length and explain all of the following:
a. Financial need.
b. How the scholarship will be used if awarded,
c. Career plans for the future.
d. Thoughts on Brent's website
3. Recommendation from guidance counselor verifying school enrollment, addressing future plans, and personal character. Youth group leader recommendations accepted as well.
Application deadline for 2025 scholarship is April 23, 2025.
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Previous scholarship recipients:
2024
I. Rice, Hickory High School, Chesapeake, VA
2023
A. Ferguson, East Wilkes HS, Ronda, NC
Children's Ministry, LaUnion, Argentina
2022
C. Robinson, Surry Central HS, Dobson, NC
Children's Plaza playground equipment
IBM, LaUnion, Argentina
2021
Children's Charity International
2020
Not awarded due to pandemic situation
2019
J. Banks, East Surry HS, Pilot Mountain, NC
D. Johnson Kempsville HS, Virginia Beach NC
2018
Donation to multi-student youth program
2017
L. Eads, NSHS, Mount Airy, NC
L. Eads, NSHS, Mount Airy, NC
2016
Donation to youth programs
2015
C. Braziel, Currituck HS, Moyock, NC
Anonymous recipient donation
2013
K. Edwards, Atlantic Shores HS, Virginia Beach, VA
M. Martin, North Surry HS, Mount Airy, NC
2012
J. Grantham, Bayside HS, Virginia Beach, VA
K. Moser, North Surry HS, Mount Airy, NC
2011
M. Grant, Kempsville HS, Virginia Beach, VA
A. Williams, Halifax Academy, Roanoke Rapids, NC
2010
M. Heffington, Kellam HS, Virginia Beach, VA
C. Creech, Gates County HS, Gatesville, NC
2009
L. Kunda, Kempsville HS, Virginia Beach, VA
A. Smith, DH Conley HS, Greenville, NC
2008
J. Wallace, Kempsville HS, Virginia Beach, VA
J. Benge, Mount Airy HS, Mount Airy, NC
2007
L. Dollar, Kempsville HS, Virginia Beach, VA
W. Mooney, Surry Central HS, Dobson, NC
2006
D. Komornik, Kempsville HS, Virginia Beach, VA
K.C. Marion, Surry Central HS, Dobson, NC
2005
P. Swan, Kempsville HS, Virginia Beach, VA
J. Smith, North Surry HS, Mount Airy NC
H. Davis, North Surry HS, Mount Airy, NC
Mail completed application requirements to:
Brent's Witness Foundation, Inc.
Scholarship Committee
P. O. Box 1103
Mount Airy, NC 27030