The Suffolk Education Foundation is pleased to announce the recipients of its 2018 college scholarships. This year, the Foundation awarded $20,000 to help 14 local high school graduates continue their education. Since 1993, the Foundation has committed more than $360,000 in college scholarships for local high school students.

Cross Family Scholarship — The Cross family established this $1,500 scholarship to honor their father, a Suffolk real estate agent who served on the School Board. The King’s Fork recipient is Hannah Marston, who will be attending James Madison University to study engineering. The Nansemond River recipient is Joshua Thompson, who will be attending Virginia Tech to study chemistry. The Lakeland recipient is Madellyn Carr, who will be attending Longwood University to study therapeutic recreation.

Helen and Ned Ferguson Endowment Scholarship — The Ferguson family established this $1,500 scholarship to honor their father, a local lawyer and community leader. The King’s Fork recipient is Yvette Gamor, who will be attending the University of Virginia to study biochemistry. The Nansemond River recipient is Jade Mobley, who will be attending Virginia Commonwealth University to study nursing. The Lakeland recipient is Morgan Baines, who will be attending Virginia Tech to study biology.

Future Educator Scholarship — This $1,500 scholarship is designed to assist students interested in careers in education. Skylar Old of Nansemond River will be attending Longwood to study elementary education.

The Wilbur Wilson Future Educator Scholarship — The Wilson family established this scholarship to honor Wilburn Wilson, a long-time Suffolk Public Schools teacher. This $1,500 scholarship is awarded to a graduating senior at Lakeland High School who plans a career as an educator. Emily Owen will be attending Tidewater Community College to study early childhood education.

2005. Blair Harry Memorial Scholarship — 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. This scholarship is earmarked for college-bound student athletes. Grace Merryfield, a swimmer at King’s Fork, will be attending Randolph-Macon College to study chemistry. Hunter Rawls, a soccer player at Lakeland, will be attending East Carolina University to study engineering.

Gertrude B. Pruden Family Arts Scholarship — The Pruden family established this $1,500 scholarship in memory of this local teacher who loved music, art, and drama. This year’s recipient is Tyla Jones from Nansemond River. She will be attending Virginia Commonwealth University to study art foundation.

Ellis E. Temple Sr. Memorial Scholarship — The Temple family established this scholarship in 2009 to help a college-bound student-athlete and school leader at Lakeland High School. This $1,000 scholarship was first awarded in 2013. Ellis Temple was a well-known parent advocate and president of the city-wide Suffolk PTA Council. This year’ recipient is Ryan Wright, who will be attending Longwood University to study accounting.

1. Talmadge Darden Memorial Scholarship — The family and friends of Darden established this $1,000 scholarship in memory of this former King’s Fork Middle School principal to help students who had attended King’s Fork Middle School and who were planning to major in music, culinary arts or education. This year’s recipient is Brandon Wilson, who will be attending Norfolk State University to study education.

The Doug Dohey Memorial Scholarship — The Dohey family, along with several individual donors, established a $1,500 scholarship to honor the former assistant superintendent’s dedication to Suffolk Public Schools. The inaugural recipient is Myles Copeland, from King’s Fork, who will be attending Norfolk State University to study nursing.

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

If you are interested in making a difference in the lives of Suffolk Public School students, you can make a contribution to the Suffolk Education Foundation online at suffolkeducationfoundation.org or by mailing your tax-deductible donation to P.O. Box 394, Suffolk VA 23439-0394. Donations are accepted in honor or memory of individuals or in direct support of other initiatives like dual enrollment courses, AP test fees and, of course, scholarships.

The Suffolk Education Foundation was founded in 1993 and received its IRS 501(c)(3) status in the same year. Since that time, the board has worked hard by developing a variety of fundraisers to raise additional donations and to ensure that students and staff of Suffolk Public Schools receive scholarships and classroom grants on an annual basis.

The mission of the Suffolk Education Foundation is to support Suffolk Public Schools by connecting the community’s talents and resources to expand educational opportunities for students and staff. Over the past 20 years, Foundation investment assets have grown to more than $450,000. By supporting Suffolk Public Schools, the Foundation is ensuring that the Suffolk community will have talented leaders and citizens long into the future.

For more information, contact SEF President Jennifer Schmack at jschmack@suffolkva.us or visit the Foundation’s website at www.suffolkeducationfoundation.org.