(Rocky Mount, NC) The Nash Community College Foundation is pleased to announce that the 5th Annual Jack Laughery Ride for Knowledge will be held on Saturday, May 19, 2012 at Rocky Mount Harley-Davidson. The event serves as a tribute to Jack Laughery, the former CEO and chairman of the Hardee's restaurant chain along with his wife, Helen and their love of motorcycling and support of higher education. All proceeds from the motorcycle ride benefit the Helen and Jack Laughery Honorary Scholarship Fund at Nash Community College.

The Helen and Jack Laughery Honorary Scholarship was established in 2004 to recognize the Laugherys' philanthropic endeavors and outstanding leadership for the betterment of the Nash/Rocky Mount area. This fund provides annual scholarships to help deserving nontraditional students who return to college to enhance their marketable job skills. Twenty scholarships have been awarded since the scholarship's establishment.

The motorcycle ride is rain or shine and will be held at Rocky Mount Harley-Davidson. Registration will begin at 9:30am and the ride will begin at 11:00am. The cost is $15 per rider and includes breakfast, lunch, commemorative pin, live music and a parade-style ride escorted by the Nash County Sheriff's Office through scenic Nash County. All bikes are welcome.

The event will feature special live music by Monkey Foot along with other activities including a 2012 Harley-Davidson Switchback Motorcycle raffle, 50/50 raffle, and many other raffle items and car show, entertainment, bike wash, bike show and an opportunity to speak with current students and scholarship recipients. Harley's Heroes Disabled American Veterans Mobile Service Office will provide one-on-one consultation to veterans and their families with easy access benefits, education and counseling. The Nash Community College EMS, Machining and Welding Programs will be highlighted at the event with the mobile classroom and custom-built chopper on-site.

The Nash Community College Foundation is thankful to the following 2012 ride sponsors: Rocky Mount Harley-Davidson, Behind Barz Motorcycle Magazine, Boddie-Noell Enterprises, Carolina Eagle Budweiser Distributors, Inc., Chic-Fil-A of Cobb Corners, Modern Electric Tattoo, Key Storage of Nashville, Wheeler-Woodlief, Nash County Sheriff's Office, Bissett Produce Co., Bobby Murray Toyota and Twin County Motorsports and in-kind sponsors: Pepsi Bottling Ventures, Doug Sauls' Bar-B-Q & Seafood, Canteen Vending and Institutional Interiors.

For more information, visit www.facebook.com/rideforknowledge, www.nashcc.edu/rfk, call 252-451-8230 or email

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Media Contact:

Kelley Deal
Nash Community College
Public Relations Director
252-451-8235