Merchants give scholarships
Kimberly Roper wants to join her older brother at Mercer University in the fall to study Pharmacology.
Merchants Association of Columbia County member Ted Lane presents Kimberly Roper, a recent Greenbrier High School graduate, with a $2,000 scholarship as her parents, Mark and Jean Roper, and association president Mike Zapata look on.
Photo by Valerie Rowell
With tuition roughly $22,000 a year, her parents, Mark and Jean Roper, are happy to accept any help they can including a $2,000 scholarship awarded to the recent Greenbrier High School graduate from the Merchants Association of Columbia County.
The association recently awarded 10 scholarships totaling $14,000 to Columbia County students.
Association President Mike Zapata said the scholarships are given to students to get them started off toward a bright future.
"We have outstanding people in this county and we have outstanding students," Zapata said. "We are very proud of our students in Columbia County."
Winners of the $2,000 scholarship, which were presented at the group's meeting, were: Allen Ligon, Evans High School; James Stapleton, Evans High School; Ashley Foster, Evans High School; and Kimberly Roper, Greenbrier High School.
Winners of the $1,000 scholarships were: Will Rogers, Greenbrier High School; Jonathan Brown, Evans High School; Altomesha Peoples, Greenbrier High School; Ashley Robinson, Lakeside High School; Michael Walduch, Harlem High School; and Robert Paist, Evans High School.
Michael Walduch said he plans to use his scholarship at Augusta Technical College studying computer programming.
The association holds an annual golf tournament and the Columbia County Fall Fair, which is its largest fund-raiser. Money raised goes towards upgrading fair grounds, several charities and the annual scholarships.
"We did very well this year," said Pam Randall, association secretary/treasurer.
Last year, the association awarded $8,000 in scholarship funds and $8,000 in 2002, Randall said.