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The Theo Ratliff Center presented scholarships to six local high school students on Friday, May 29.

Each Theo Ratliff Scholarship is $1,000, and a total of $6,000 was awarded to students. The money can be used for books, food, school supplies, and other necessities that students may need. Students were required to write an essay to earn their scholarships. The essays focused on what their future plans are while in college and after college. Afterward, students are evaluated on how well they established their ideas and developed their essays.

Usually, 12 scholarships are handed out each year, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, only six scholarships were given out this year.

“The pandemic has effected everything we do here at the activity center,” said Director Edward Ward. “Fortunately, we had their applications and transcripts prior to shutting down the facility. So we had a feel for how many recipients we had and how many would be receiving the scholarship.”

Giving out scholarships is always a proud moment for the activity center staff.

“There are very limited resources in our area, so these scholarships play a major role in these kids getting into school,” Ward said. “And being able to purchase books and other small items to help them in their first year is critical. So they are very important, and we look forward to handing them out each year.”

The scholarship recipients are Aundria Murdock, Samia Jackson, Tyler Sams, Khya James, Kelsei Elmore, and Skyla Warner.