BY VALERIE B. WILLIAMS, Contributor
Photos: George ‘Pop’ Lancaster
ST. PETERSBURG — Fifteen graduating seniors from five different high schools celebrated receiving scholarships awarded to them by the Gibbs Senior High Class of 1968, Inc. As their senior year comes to a close, this was one of the many events the graduates plan to attend.
The Class of 1968, Inc. host their annual scholarship awards program to present scholarships to deserving high school graduates who have been accepted to an accredited college or vocational school. This year’s program was held at the Enoch Davis Center Tuesday, May 17.
Each applicant completed a scholarship application form that required the graduate to have maintained at least a 2.5 or higher grade point average, have received their college acceptance letter and have volunteered in the community. This class of 2016 graduates excelled academically with grade point averages that ranked as high as 4.69 with 85 percent of the graduates having a 3.0 or higher GPA.
The Class of 1968, Inc. awarded 15 scholarships, its highest number to date, because each applicant exceeded the scholarship expectations. Honorees will be seeking undergraduate degrees in education, sports, medicine, engineering and broadcast communication.
Friends and family packed in to watch the recipients receive awards in the amount $500 and a professional 8×10 photo of themselves. They were encouraged to do their best in college and to become contributing members of society.
Michael Walker, Jr. on the grand piano provided the musical prelude and the entertainment for the evening. Class Chaplain Alvin Frazier gave spiritual advice to the graduates while Barbara Stockton recited the poem “Myself” by Edgar Albert Guest that challenged the graduates to live a productive life that would make them proud of themselves.
A PowerPoint presentation entitled “Bridging the Gap” highlighted 48 years of The Class of 1968’s journey together. The presentation emphasized the importance of class unity, community service and the challenge to create their own legacy.
Mistress of Ceremony Sylvia Wells-Moore provided the graduates with encouraging remarks, and at the culmination of the program each graduate took photos with their families and were treated to refreshments.
Scholarship awards are funded by The Gibbs Class of 1968, Incorporated Holiday Extravaganza, which will be held on Christmas Eve this year. Applications are accepted each spring for consideration.
Over the past 38 years, the class has presented scholarship awards to high school graduates attending local schools. Scholarship awards are based on the senior’s grades, personal references and The Class of 1968 board of directors’ recommendation.
2016 Recipients
Gibbs High School:
- Ayanna Harris
- Erica McCallister
- Nicole Pittman
Admiral Farragut Academy:
- Armon Reedy
Boca Ciega High School:
- Roderick Macon, Jr.
- Chelsea Newton
- Keyonna Peterson
- India Srinivasa
- A’Rielle Snead
Calvary Christian Academy:
- Niaya White
Lakewood High School:
- Mara Brody
- Malcolm Butler
- Naadirah Davis
- Christopher Holloway
- Edgar Martin Jr.