The Suffolk Education Foundation has announced that Kiera Rountree is the inaugural recipient of its Louis and Mary Haddad Foundation Endowed Scholarship.

Rountree is a rising senior at Lakeland High School.

The scholarship is part of an endowment made to the Suffolk Education Foundation in 2014 to establish financial assistance to a rising junior or senior who is taking college-level classes while still in high school.

The scholarship pays up to $1,500 in tuition, fees and materials for one academic year. The student must be planning post-secondary studies in science, technology, engineering, mathematics or health.

Rountree continues to pursue an associate’s degree through Paul D. Camp Community College. She hopes to attend North Carolina A&T University and plans to major in civil engineering.

“I believe taking these classes will help me achieve my goal of getting a head start on college,” Rountree stated.

In addition to her academic studies, she is an accomplished track athlete for Lakeland High School and the AAU Suffolk Stars.

Mary Haddad, president of the Louis and Mary Haddad Foundation, was impressed with Rountree as the inaugural recipient of their family foundation’s scholarship.

After reviewing Rountree’s credentials, she said, “I’m thoroughly delighted with Kiera’s application. What a stellar individual.”

Awards are made following an application process and review by a committee from the Suffolk Education Foundation’s board of directors. Selection criteria include academic achievement, community service and school service, and future education and career goals.

In addition to this specialized high school/college scholarship, the Suffolk Education Foundation awarded $16,000 to help 11 local high school graduates continue their education.

Since 1993, the Foundation has committed more than $325,000 in college scholarships for local high school students.