Nine students receive scholarships
Megan Hannon, 19, of Harlem, wants to be a nurse. Michael Ingham, 18, of Evans, wants to enter the ministry. Jonathan Kareis, 19, of Martinez, wants to study and teach literature or psychology.
Michael Ingham (from left), Jonathan Kareis, Dustin Shirey, Megan Hannon, Nicole Wolbert and Jamie Davis, and three students not shown, were presented scholarships from the Columbia County Foundation for Children at the foundation's Aug. 18 board meeting.
Photo by Valerie Rowell
The Columbia County Foundation for Children put the three teens and six other Columbia County students a step closer to their goal with a scholarship.
The board presented nine students with a total of $12,000 in scholarship funds at a board meeting Aug. 18.
"We do this every year," said Brian Stutts, a foundation board member.
"This is the most since I've been on the board for the last four years."
The scholarship is awarded to Columbia County students with at least a C average in high school who will attend a post-secondary school.
The application process also requires an essay and financial information because the scholarship is needs-based, said Jean Barney, the board chairman.
"The scholarship is sent to the school to be placed in an account in their name, and it is to be used for tuition, books, supplies or any other fees," Stutts said.
All funds for the scholarships were donated. Two students earned the Herbert Homes Scholarship; one earned the Wanda and Jake Ivey Scholarship; three students earned the Barbara and Bill Beazley Scholarship; and three students were awarded the West Lake Garden Club scholarship.
"We got nearly three times as many applications as we awarded," Stutts said. "... a couple of people are repeats from last year."
Hannon, who was awarded the scholarship last year, said she appreciates the subsidy. The HOPE grant does not pay for summer classes at Augusta State University, but the scholarship allowed her to attend them without out-of-pocket tuition expenses.
"Yeah, (the scholarship) helped," Hannon said, adding she'll soon be turning in applications to the Medical College of Georgia School of Nursing. "Then I got a good bit extra, and during the summer, I took classes, and I didn't get financial aid during the summer. So I was able to put it into a savings account and use it for the summer.''
Jamie Davis, 22, of Evans, is in her fifth year studying early childhood education at Augusta State. HOPE pays for only our years, so the foundation's scholarship is helping her pay for tuition and books for what she hopes is her last year in school.
Nicole Wolbert, 18, of Martinez, knows what she wants to do, but said the cost of books, tuition and other fees can be overwhelming.
The foundation scholarship is sending her to Augusta State, where she will study to teach others.
"I want to major in math and teach it," Wolbert said.