Take Stock in Children Scholarship Awards

CECILIA SPEARS
Staff writer

Scholarships were awarded in the Washington County Ag Center May 15 at 6 p.m. These scholarships are known as the “Take Stock in Children”, founded and hosted by Don Walters, chairman of Orange Hill Soil and Water Conservation and President of the North Central Panhandle Education Foundation.
The $10,000 scholarships will help provide two years of community college and two years in the four-year college of the students choosing. These scholarships were awarded to: David Williams, Alex Gonzalez, Marjoune Dean, Maya Roulhac, Toni McLorey, Sarah Mastison, Jordon Biddle, Sara Gore, Brianna Jones, Stephanie Calix, Ailsa Doss and Victoria Grimes (absent).
Walters gave a speech thanking everyone for their hard work in contributing to, not only the banquet, but also the aid to build the scholarship foundation. Walters said that everyone could be considered a contributing asset to their goals.
“If it were up to me, I’d see to it that every kid could get a scholarship,” said Walters.
“It’d be much more useful to them than a toll road.”
He also said that as long as he was able to, he would continue to help out as much as possible, when it came to the youth, he said he’d do just about anything it took to set them up right.
“As long as I’m physically and mentally able, I will not give up,” said Walters.
“Though my wife doesn’t seem to think that it’s true for me mentally.”
Also attending was Calvin Stevenson, Superintendent for Washington County Schools. Stevenson kept up with Walters’ whimsical attitude as well as the deep concern of the futures of the children now receiving the scholarships to begin their lives.
“The most precious gift God could’ve possibly ever given us…are the children,” said Stevenson.
Also brought up was the lack of mentors for the children. There are 12 children without a mentor. They said that all that is required for a mentor is at least one hour, once a week.
Applications for the “Take Stock in Children” can be found at any school. A committee of six will review the application. Qualified students are then notified.
Food was provided by Pat and Randy Brown, owners of the Chocolate Gallery and Angel Cakes, and Henry Stone, owner of Stone’s Meat Co.