The Suffolk Education Foundation announced it has awarded $19,000 in scholarships this year, helping 12 local high school graduates continue their education.

Emily Bazemore of Nansemond River High School, Pamela Jones of Lakeland High School and Erin Whitley of King’s Fork High School each received the $1,500 annual Jean and Harry L. Cross Jr. Endowment Scholarship, according to a foundation news release.

The Cross family established the scholarship to honor their father, a Suffolk Realtor who served on the School Board.

Bazemore plans to study urban affairs and planning at Virginia Tech, Jones is headed to Virginia Union University to study nursing and Whitley will focus on elementary education at Longwood University, according to the foundation.

Nansemond River High School’s Kendall Duke, Lakeland High School’s Angel Knight and King’s Fork High School’s Atiena Branch are recipients of the Helen and Ned Ferguson Endowment Scholarship.

The $1,500 scholarship honors the Ferguson family’s father, a lawyer and community leader.

Krysta Jewette of Nansemond River High School, Deja Lankford of King’s Fork High School and Carol Holland of Lakeland High School received the foundation’s Future Educators Scholarship, each receiving $1,500 specifically to assist them in careers in education.

Jewette will attend Longwood University with plans to teach English as a second language, Lankford is attending George Mason University as she prepares to teach upper-level mathematics, and Holland will attend Liberty University with plans to teach vocal music.

The foundation also administers endowed scholarships for the families of Gertrude B. Pruden, the Hon. G. Blair Harry and Ellis E. Temple Sr.

Harold Hodge of Nansemond River High School received the $1,500 Gertrude B. Pruden Family Arts Scholarship, and will attend Pace University in New York City to study theater and directing.

The Pruden family established its scholarship in memory of this local teacher who loved music, art, and drama.

Jamee Albright of Lakeland High School and Chad Kozoyed of Nansemond River High School received the G. Blair Harry Memorial Scholarship Awards.

Albright will attend Virginia Commonwealth University to study physical therapy, and Kozoyed is headed to Longwood University to study physical therapy and play soccer.

The Harry family established this $1,500 scholarship to honor their father, who was a well-known Suffolk lawyer and judge who passed away in 2005.

Jamee Albright of Lakeland High School, recipient of the Ellis E. Temple, Sr. Memorial Scholarship, will attend Virginia Commonwealth University to study physical therapy.

The Temple family established the $1,000 Ellis E. Temple, Sr. Memorial Scholarship in 2009 to help a college-bound student athlete and school leader at Lakeland High School, and it was first awarded in 2013. Ellis Temple was a well-known parent advocate and president of the citywide Suffolk PTA Council.

Awards are allocated following an application process and review by a committee from the foundation’s board of directors.

Selection criteria includes academic achievement, community and school service, and future education and career goals.

Those interested in contributing to the scholarships can send their tax-deductible donation to P.O. Box 394, Suffolk VA  23439-0394, noting which fund is being supported.

The foundation also accepts general donations in support of its other programs, including classroom instructional grants, Teacher of the Year and Star Award employee recognitions, staff development and tuition assistance for high school students taking dual-credit college courses.