Service scholarship honors slain student
A former Columbia County student now has a lasting legacy.
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Columbia County Community Connections and Security Federal Bank are sponsoring the Ryan Clark Scholarship and Community Service Award to honor an outstanding volunteer between the ages of 14 and 19 who attends school in Richmond or Columbia counties.
Clark, a 2002 Lakeside High School graduate, was among those killed in the April 2007 campus shooting at Virginia Tech.
Community Connections Executive Director Julie Miller, accompanied by Clark's mother, Letitie Clark, announced the scholarship at Tuesday's Columbia County school board meeting.
"There's a lot of scholarships, but not based on what you do for your community," Miller said after the meeting.
Clark volunteered for numerous organizations. He sorted items at Golden Harvest Food Bank, served food to the homeless at the Master's Table and tutored children at Communities in Schools of Augusta-Richmond County.
He also volunteered with the Virginia Tech YMCA during Thanksgiving 2004 to help clean up after Hurricane Katrina and served as a counselor at Camp Big Heart, a camp for children with special needs.
He would have graduated from Virginia Tech in May 2007 with a triple major in biology, English and psychology.
"We know there are a lot of young people out there that are doing good things," Miller said. "But it's also a way to get other kids involved in community service."
The deadline to nominate a student for the award is Nov. 30.
Nominees must submit their applications and a short essay by Jan. 31.
The nominations, applications and essays should be sent to Columbia County Community Connections, P.O. Box 99, Harlem, GA 30814.
The scholarship will be awarded in May.
Contributions to the scholarship fund can be sent to Security Federal Bank, 7004 Evans Town Center Blvd., Evans, GA 30809.
Depending on the amount of funding available, Miller said she hopes a scholarship can be awarded to one Columbia County student and to one Richmond County student.
A committee of six people, made up of three representatives from each county, will determine the winner or winners.
The scholarship will go to a young person who has high moral character, demonstrates leadership qualities and has a history of service to his or her school, neighborhood or community.
For information, contact Miller at (706) 556-0609 or log on to www.hands onharlem.org.
Ryan Clark, a 2002 graduate of Lakeside High School, was among those killed in the April 2007 shooting at Virginia Tech.