Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

GHS seniors receive scholarships

Gurdon High School had its annual scholarship and school awards program on Wednesday, May 3, with some 20 organizations granting scholarships to 2006 GHS seniors.

The days events began with National Honor Society inductions.

The first scholarship award came from Steve Orsburn, of the First State Bank of Gurdon. It went to senior Jodie Swayze and was for $500.

Sara Abernathy of Henderson State University took the podium and awarded $700 per semester scholarships to Jo Lee Jester, Jason Wells and Dusty Craig.

Seniors receiving scholarships for HSU tuition and $100 fees include Carolanne Duke, Cody Miller, Tiffany Nolan, Shawn OConnell, Jodie Swayze and Natalie Tarpley. The HSU presidential scholarship, which includes tuition, room and board, goes to Lakisha Bates.

The foundation scholarship went to senior Derek Buck, while the Reddie Spirit to Kania Russey.

Cheerleading scholarships went to Carolanne Duke and Natalie Tarpley.

The choir scholarship went to Kania Ressey

The HSU journalism scholarship went to Krissi Davies.

David Goodman from Ouachita Baptist University presented a $25,000 institutional and foundation scholarship to Jason Wells.

Eddra Phillips took the podium next for the University of Arkansas at Hope. She awarded Jodie Swayze $8,000 for two years; Tiara Fulton a technical scholarship of $3,800 for two years; John David Gober a technical scholarship of $3,800 for two years; Jennifer Watson a $3,800 technical scholarship for two years; Whitney Williams, a $3,800 technical scholarship for two years; and Saymone Day a $3,800 technical scholarship for two years.

Chelsea Bishop of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock awarded chancellor leadership scholarships - $6,000 for four years, totaling $24,000. Recipients are Jaqua Dixon and Derek Buck.

Rev. Johnny Harris presented the Allie Mae Ollison scholarship for $500 for four years to Destiny Talley.

GHS Counselor Rita Guthrie presented the Clark County Cattleman Association Scholarship for $1,000 to Carolanne Duke.

Barry Elmore presented the Potlach Foundation Scholarship for $1,400 a year for four years renewable and a total of $5,600 to Whitney Williams.

Anita Cabe presented the Cabe Scholarship for $1,500 per year for four years to Ashley Floyd.

Brent Sumler, of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, gave two honorary scholarships. Dustin Craig received the Academic Lutien scholarship and signed a letter of intent to play football, and Brandon Smith received a scholarship for cheerleading.

Sybol Harris of the Red Springs Extension Homemakers Club gave $50 each in scholarship money to Allison Anderson, Lakisha Bates and Jason Wells.

Rotary President Ed McKinnon gave a $500 scholarship to Jason Wells.

Joann Shaver, for the CD&E Club of Gurdon, gave a $500 scholarship to Natalie Tarpley.

Cindi Escalante, student council sponsor, gave a $250 scholarship to Jason Wells.

Stan Escalante, of Ouachita Baptist University, recognized six students for completing the Upward Bound Trio program. They are Jennifer Watson, Summer Dickey, Jaqua Dixon, Derek Buck, Felicia McPeak and Jason Wells.

GHS Principal Leonard Gills presented the HSU Alumni Honorary Scholarships to Natalie Tarpley and Carolanne Duke. Gills also presented a $500 Austin and Mary Lou Capps scholarship to Jason Wells.

Gills awarded Jason Wells with a certificate for Congressional Recognition.

Counselor Rita Guthrie awarded a $17,000, four-year deans scholarship from Arkansas Tech University to Tiffany Nolan.

Coca Cola awarded four $250 scholarships to Allison Anderson, Jaqua Dixon, Daniel Stroder and Destiny Talley.

Tara Williams, family and consumer science teacher, awarded vocational completers recognition to those students finishing six units of consumer science. Those listed are Rex Potter, Victoria Allen, Robin Robinsa, Whitney Williams, Sara Armstrong, Lashalla Beames, Saymone Day, Christina Roalos, Summer Dickey, Marco Giles, Felisia McPeak, Amanda Rogers and Jody Swayze.

The Beta Club and National Honor Society students were presented.

Recognition by Gills was given to the top 10 seniors.

"I would like to recognize those students earning academic letters through high grade point averages," Gills said. "Those getting letters for four years got the highest award we give; the Gurdon High School blanket."

Those seniors receiving blankets this year were Lakisha Bates, Cody Miller, Shawn OConnell and Jason Wells.

Seniors receiving three academic letters were Tiffany Nolan, Daniel Frances, Branaie Weems and Jodie Swayze.

Backing up to freshmen, those receiving a first-time academic letter for the 2005-2006 school year were Brittany Farris, Blair Kuhn, Andrea Fulton, Brittany McBride and Codie Golden.

Sophomores receiving letters include Helda Cruz, Kirby Sandridge, Tori Morehead and Sarah Boyce.

In the junior class, academic letters went to Megan Robbins and Porcha Anderson.

Gills also noted the Jonathon Lacy and Rachard Ritchie went to Boys State this year.