BEAUTY (Black Educators Are United Totally, Yes!) an organization of retired Black educators awarded 15 Black graduates from Raleigh County scholarships totaling $13,500 on Saturday.
According to BEAUTY’s president, Quincy Madison, the organization sent out nearly 70 applications for scholarships to all 4 high schools in Raleigh County this year. All of the 19 who applied this year came from Woodrow Wilson High School!
Of the scholarships that are to help students further their education; 15 received a scholarship of $2,000, $1,000 or $500 scholarship winners include the following: James Owens, $2,000; receiving $1,000 each: Alexis Anderson, Makayla Barringer , Makaiya Bryant, Damon Hamby, Jr., Richard Law, Kimberly Moore, Nataysia Moore, Katyra Pannell and Jonah Stevens; receiving $500 each are: Braylynn Eneje, Cayla Hooper, Tessa Hutchens, Elizabeth McDonnell and Jordan Washington.
According to Madison, the purpose of the annual ceremony is to honor Black graduates throughout the county with a special ceremony celebrating their achievement of graduating from high school before they head off into their respective futures.
The ceremony’s keynote speaker, Thomas Parham, Jr., CEO of ATO Consulting LLC, wrote a piece titled “Stepping into the First Day of the Rest of Your Life,” in which he gives honor to God for the students and the tremendous accomplishments reached during an unusual time in their lives.
“I want to publicly applaud, commend, and acknowledge each of you graduates on being honored during this occasion,” Parham said. “Graduates, on this day through your hard work, determination and perseverance, you have honored your parents as well as your family and friends. “You have made your family and community extremely proud of you!”
Parham added he wanted graduates to promise themselves, their family, and him that they will continue to keep the values they have learned at the forefront of their heart and mind.
“No matter where the journey called life takes you, a person with Christ-like values will ensure that you will always be on top,” he said. “ As you embark upon the next steps in your life, make sure you keep these tools in the toolkit of your heart.”
This year, Beauty presents the Juanita C. Parham Scholarship, for $2,000, presented to the student who has demonstrated exceptional achievement, to Woodrow Wilson High School student, James Owens.
Owens plans to attend Old Dominion University and study computer science and engineering. While in high school he was a member of the National Honor Society, National Society of High School Scholars, and National Youth Leaderships Forum for Medicine, and was a peer mentor.
Owens volunteers as an usher at his church, Mac’s Toy Fund and Beckley’s annual events including Trunk or Treat. He also participated in track and soccer and did contract work at The School of Harmony.
