Russell, Pittman lead Raider Class of 2015

Advice to recipients of $1.9 million in scholarships: ‘Spend it wisely’

By Kevin Spradlin
PeeDeePost.com

* Photo gallery – more than 600 images

ROCKINGHAM — Some offered career advice or finance advice.

Other reminisced of their own high school days, and still others spoke in memory of loved ones who lived full lives and of others whose lives were cut short. At least five people were honored through memorial scholarships on Thursday night in the Richmond Senior High School cafeteria whose lives were cut short in automobile accidents, by a drunk driver or an expected series of heart attacks.

Dozens of members of the Class of 2015 were recognized for their academic achievements during the annual Academic Awards Banquet.

Molly Russell was identified as class valedictorian and John Pittman as salutatorian and will lead the graduating seniors in Raider Stadium during the 42nd annual commencement exercises beginning at 8 p.m. on Friday, June 12.

The banquet, catered by school cafeteria personnel, was dedicated to guidance counselor Jewell Price, who will retire from Richmond Senior High School at the end of the school year

“This is a special place,” Price said. “Once a Raider, always a Raider. Don’t forget that.”

Heading into Thursday’s program, RSHS Principal Keith McKenzie noted that graduating seniors — and a few high-achieving juniors — had been awarded more than $1,912,000 in scholarships.

“We are excited about the future of these young adults,” McKenzie said at then of the program that lasted a little more than two and one-half hours.

* Grayson Campbell, Sarah Goodwin and David Locklear were awarded the inaugural John Searcy Memorial Scholarship. Searcy died in the early morning hours of Oct. 2, 2014, from two heart attacks.

* Caleb Ricks was awarded the Rev. Joseph R. Boone Memorial Scholarship. Pam Easterling, Boone’s daughter, presented the $1,500 scholarship. Boone died at the age of 59 in a car crash. Easterling said her father’s ministry was “mostly done from the piano,” and it was gratifying to be awarding the scholarship to Ricks, who will be pursuing an arts in music degree from UNC-Pembroke.

* Family members of the late Reginald Vance McEachin awarded a scholarship in honor of the 2000 Richmond Senior High School graduate. McEachin was killed in 2007 by a drunk driver and the scholarship was created as “our way of honoring his memory.”

* Ethan Baucom was awarded the Mary Beth Lear Memorial Scholarship. Lear was a promising college-bound young woman killed in a car crash May 2009, just before graduating from Anson High School in Wadesboro.

Richard Nicholas, who along with Curtis Ingram and Charles Briscoe presented the 29th Masonic District Scholarship to Alexis Fletcher, Daquan Patterson and Kiera Powell, reminded the students that Thursday’s ceremony and graduation were indeed the end of a chapter, but “the journey’s only beginning.”

Students weren’t the only individuals receiving recognition on Thursday, as McKenzie presented Price with the Honored Service Award for outstanding service to Richmond Senior High School. In addition, retired teacher and Richmond County Board of Education member Jerry Ethridge earned the Honored Patron Award.

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Editor’s note: Please email suggested corrections (such as name misspellings) to peedeepost@gmail.com.

Honored Patron Award

Given by Rochmond Senior High School

To:  Jerry Etheridge

Presentation Keith McKenzie

Honored Service Award

for Outstanding Service to RSHS

To: Ms Jewell Price

Rockingham Rotary Club

Given by Rockingham Rotary Board

To: Taylor Forrester

Alpha Mu Academic Scholarship

Given by Alpha Mu Chapter Alpha Pi Chi Sorority

To: Shawn Everett

Carolina Skin Care Scholarship

Given by Carolina Skin Care

To: McKenzie Grimes

David Alexander Sherrill, Jr. Memorial Scholarship

Given by Scholarship Committee

To: Candice Liles

Community Service Award

Given by Christian Clothes Closet

To: Breanna McKinnon

Mary Swann Honorary Scholarship

Given by Democratic Women of Richmond County

To: Breanna McKinnon, Elijah Ratliff

David A. Spears Memorial Scholarship

Given by Deborah, Andrew, Evan and Will Spears

To: Dylan Carpenter, Hayleigh Denham

David H. Dewitt Memorial Scholarship

Given by family and friends

To: David Locklear, Trey McInnis

John Searcy Memorial Scholarship

Given by Scholarship Committee

To: Grayson Campbell, Sarah Goodwin, David Locklear

Ed Ormsby Memorial Scholarship

Given by Scholarship Committee

To: Trey McInnis, Katie Satterfield

Gene Bellamy Memorial Scholarship 

Given by Bellamy Family

To: Heather Bellamy

Dr. Teneka C. Steed Scholarship

Given by Scholarship Committee

To: Nile Fisher

Pee Dee Electric Cooperation Awareness Scholarship

Given by Board Members

To: David Pratt McInnis III

Rocking For A Reason Scholarship

Given by Scholarship Committee

To: Grayson Campbell, Dylan Carpenter, Brandon Greene and Megan Mills

For “Helping Fight Against Cancer”

To: Jonathan Hernandez, Mrs. Lerida Razon

For “Golden Heart Award”

To: Hannah Nelson

Florence Kidder Memorial

Given by National Society of Colonial Dames

To: McKenzie Grives

Charlie and Leanna Joyce Memorial

Given by family of Daphne Smith

To: Molly Russell

Peking Wok Scholarship

Given by Peking Wok Restaurant

To: Grayson Campbelll

“Future In Healthcare” Scholarship

Given by Mr. and Mrs. Joey Moree

To: Breanna McKinnon

“Future in Education” Scholarship

Given by Mr. and Mrs. Joey Moree

To: Hananah Nelson

Hairston Eldercare Servies Inc. Scholarship

Given by Scholarship Commitee

To: Nile Fisher

RSHS Class of 1973 “Giving Back to the Community” Scholarship

Given by Scholarship Committee

To: Genny Juarez, Russell Mejia, Ashley Stubbs

East Rockingham Fire Department

Given by Jeremy Hinson Memorial

To: Javae Cross, Brana McKinnon, John Smith

Mary Beth Lear Memorial Scholarship

Given by Lear family

To: Ethan Baucom

Alpha Pi Chi Sorority Scholarship

Given by Alpha Lambda Chapter

To: Alexis Symone Hailey, Davina LeGrande, ShaMonica McCain, Andria Surgeon

Fred D. McQueen Jr., MD Scholarship

Given by Fred D. McQueen, MD

To: Jenna Graham

Richmond Community College

Given by RCC Committee

To: Charles Duncan, Dazia Everett-Ewing, Natalie Leppen, David Locklear, Cassidy Thope

Wingate University

Given by Wingate Scholarship Committee

To: Kayla Hicks, Taylor McKenzie, Logan Parris, Jodi Purvis, Ashley Santiago

Thomas H. & Mary Hadley Conner Leath Scholarship

Given by the Leath Foundation

To: Nile Fisher, Daniel McInnis, John Pittman, Molly Russell, Katie Satterfield

North Carolina Governor’s School

Given by N.C. Department of Public Information

To: Hailey Mason

National Merit Scholarship Program

Given by Scholarship Cooperation

To: Angela Chen

2015 Summer Ventures in Science and Mathematics Recognition

Given SVSM Program

To: Dakota Honeycutt

Teacher Recruitment Grant Award

Given by Tau Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma

To: Olivia Haley

Outstanding Senior Math Student

Given by Richmond Senior High Math Department

To: Joseph Griffith

Outstanding Senior Science Student

Given by RSHS Science Department

To: Jacob Ruperd

Outstanding  Senior Social Studies Student

Given by RSHS Social Studies Department

To: John Pittman

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority

Given by Laurinburg Alumni Chapter

To: Nile Fisher, Breanna McKinnon

Rev. Johnny Henry Little Foundation Scholarship

Given by John Henry Little Foundation

To: Shawn Everett, Candacio Johnson, Juwan Lockhart, Breanna McKinnon, Emoni Patterson, Nathaniel Zinnerman

Moose Youth Scholarship

Given by Rockingham Moose Lodge

To: McKenzie Grimes, Justin Smith

J.W. Mask Scholarship 

Given by: Alumni Chapter CHHS  – MAHS

To: NIle Fisher, Breanna McKinnon

Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship 

Given by Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Committee

To: Kiera Powell

Vulcan Materials “Rock Smart” Scholarship

Given by Vulcan Materials

To: Joseph Griffith

2015 PGA Scholarship

Given by Scholarship Committee

Margaret Williams Nurshing Scholarship

Given by Richmond County Women’s Club

To: Bailey Preslar, Kieondra Short

NC Retired Peace Officers Association

Given by NCRPOA Scholarship Committee

To: Trey McInnish

Sandhills Regional Medical Center Scholarship for Highest Academic Achievement in Health Occupations

Given by Sandhills Regional Hospital

To: Trey McInnis

Sandhills Regional Medial Center Scholarship for Second Highest in Academic Achievement in Health Ocupations

Given by Sandhills Regional Hospital

To:  Breanna McKinnon

First Health of the Carolinas

Given by FirstHealth Richmond Memorial Hospital

To: Pee Dee Post.cm Community School

To: Brianna Bright

The Pee Dee Post Comunity Scholarship

Given by Stephanie Spradlin

To: Jarod Hicks, Nile Fisher, Breanna McKinnon, Derek Wilderman

Rev. Joseph R. Boone Memorial

Given by Children of Joseph R. Boone

To: Caleb Ricks

Dr. Pressley Rankin, Jr. Memorial Scholarship 

Given by Pam Easterling

To: Katie Satterfield

The Big Pine Retreat Scholarship

Given by Pam Easterling

To: Olivia Haley

The Rockingham Kiwanis Club Founation Scholarships

Given by Rockingham Kiwanis Club Foundation

For: John Hamer Nichols Sr. Memorial Service

To: Taylor McKenzie

For: Gary Fisher Honorary Academic Scholarship

To: Jodi Purvis

Reginald Vance McEachin Memorial

Given by family of Reginald Vance McEachin

To: Breanna McKinnon

29th Masonic District Scholarship

Given by 29th Masonic District, Prince Hall Masonic Masons

To: Alexis Fletcher, Daquan Patterson, Kiera Powell

Southeast Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors

Given by Scholarship Committee, Farm Bureau Insurance

To: Molly Russell

National Association of University Women

Given by N.A.U.W. Foundation, Hamlet Branch

To: Kieondra Short

Richmond County Farm Bureau

Given by Scholarship Foundation

To: Meredith McLean, Cassidy Thrope

“Working for a Better Community”

Given by East Rockingham Men’s Club

To: Breanna McKinnon, John Smith

American Red Cross Scholarships

Given by Red Cross Committee

To: McKenzie Grimes, Katie Satterfield

Ellerbe Lions Club Scholarship

Given by Ellerbe Lion’s Club

To: Sarah Maske, Jodi Purvis

Rockingham Civitan’s Charlie Martin Memorial Academic Scholarship

Given by Rockingham Civitan Club

To: Micaela Wilkerson

American History Award

Given by Knights of Columbus

To: Angela Chen,  Ibrahim Henson

Leak Street High School Scholarship

Given by Leak Street Scholarship Fund, Inc.

To: Caleb Ricks

Hamlet Lion’s Club Haltiwanger/Williamson Memorial Scholarship

Given by Hamlet Lion’s Club

To: Ethan Baucom, Javae Cross

Benny and Connie Parsons Memorial Scholarship

Given by family of the late Benny Parsons and the late Connie Parsons

To: Daniel McInnis, Jodi Purvis

Cole Foundation Scholarships

Given by The Cole Foundation

To: James Carter Nile Fisher, Joseph Griffith, McKenzie Grimes, Abbie Hudson, Sarah Maske, Meredith McLean, Trey McInnis, Khushbu Patel, John Pittman, Kiera Powell, Molly Russell, Derek Wilderman

Sally Cole Scholarship

Given by the Cole Foundation

To: Rebecca Fyans, Jenna Graham

State Employee’s Credit Union “People Helping Other People” Scholarship

Given by State Employee’s Credit Union Membership

To: Meredith McLean

Army ROTC Scholarship

Given by Army ROTC Scholarship Department

To: Devin DeWitt

NCSEAA

Given by Golden Leaf Foundation

To: Nile Fisher, Juwan Lockhart

Richmond Educator’s Memorial & Scholarship Fund

Given by Scholarship Committee

To: John Pittman

RSHS Top ACT Test Score

Given by Richmond Senior High School

Highest Junior Score

To: Angela Chen

Highest Senior Score

To: Joseph Griffith Anthony Pierce Molly Russell

Presentation: Don Smeigh

RSHS Top SAT Test Score

Give by Richmond Senior High School

Highest Sophmore Score

To: Ana Reyes

Highest Junior Score

To: Angela Chen

Highest Senior Score

To: Anthony Pierce

Presentation: Don Smeigh

SAT/ACT Scores Over 1400

Given by Richmond Senior High School

To: Angela Chen

Presentation: Don Smeigh

RSHS Outstanding Accomplishment

Given by Richmond Senior High School

To: Haleigh Denham, Nile Fisher, McKenzie Grimes, Candice Liles, Sarah Maske, Daniel McInnis, Meredith McLean, Khushbu Patel, Lauren Preslar, Jarod Ricks, Jacob Ruperd

Presentation: Keith McKenzie

All-Around Senior Award

Given by George Whitfield in memory of Deborah Add Adcock McDonald

To: Hannah Craven, John Pittman

Presentation: Keith McKenzie

RSHS Distinguished Service Award

Given by Richmond Senior High School

To: Joseph Griffith, Molly Russell

Presentation: Keith McKenzie

RSHS Principal’s Award

Given by Richmond Senior High School

To: Elijah Ratliff, Katie Satterfield

Presentation: Keith McKenzie

National Honor Society Graduates

Presentatin of Stoles

To: Marissa Blue, Grayson Campbell, Hannah Craven, Javae Cross, Haleigh Denham, Nile Fisher, McKenzie Grimes, Joseph Griffith, Abbie Hudson, Candice Liles, Sarah Maske, Trey McInnis, Breanna McKinnon, Meredith McLean, Joseph McRae, Hannah Nelson, Khushbu Patel, John Pittman, Bailey Preslar, Jodi Purvis, Elijah Ratliff, Jacob Ruperd, Molly Russell, Katie Satterfield, Robert Stubbs, Derek Wilderman

Presentation Karen Greene, Keith McKenzie

Junior Marshals

Given by Richmond Senior High School to: Adam Bailey, Amelia Bellanger, Bianca Casarrubias, Angela Chen, Ana Cobb, Mary Catherine Coltrane, Breanna Daley, Gabrielle Eaton, Sara Freeman, Hunter Gibson, Miranda Haltom, Ibrahim Henson, Christopher Humphrey, Rachel Jarrell, Montana Kelley, Hailey Mason, Ashley Oldham, Zarna Shah, Jeremiah Stewart, Shivani Surati, Brianna Tucker. Presentation: Christy Ranson, Keith McKenzie.

Chief Junior Marshal

Given by Richmond Senior High School to Angela Chen, presented by Christy Ranson and Keith McKenzie.

Magna Cum Laude Awards to Cameron Anderson, Grayson Campbell, Hannah Craven, Javae Cross, Haleigh Denham, Nile Fisher, Jenna Graham, Alexis Grant, Joseph Griffith, McKenzie Grimes, Abbie Hudson, Davina LeGrande, Candice Liles, Sarah Maske, Daniel McInnis, Breanna McKinnon, Meredith McLean, Khushbu Patel, Anthony Pierce, John Pittman, Kiera Powell, Bailey Preslar, Jodi Purvis, Elijah Ratliff, Jarod Ricks, Jacob Ruperd, Molly Russell, Katie Satterfield, Robert Stubbs, Drek Wilderman. Presentation by Keith McKenzie.

Summa Cum Laude Awards to John Pittman (salutatorian) and Molly Russell (valedictorian).

The following colleges and universities have offered Richmond Senior High School students a scholarship if they choose to attend there in the Fall of 2015.

Campbell University

Caleb Ricks ($28,000), Hannah Craven ($64,000), Bailey Preslar ($64,000), Elijah Ratliff ($64,000), Jarod Ricks ($64,000), Molly Russell ($64,000) and Justice McLaurin ($54,000).

Fayetteville State University

DeVonte Quick ($2,700)

Gardner-Webb University

Candice Liles ($60,000), Candacio Johnson ($50,000)

Johnson & Wales University

Kaylin Fulp ($36,400), Devan Johnson ($48,000)

Methodist University

Johnny Juarez ($28,000)

University of North Carolina – Pembroke

Caleb Ricks ($2,000)

University of South Carolina

Hannah Craven ($54,200)

Wingate University

Nile Fisher ($52,000), Kayla Hicks ($48,000), Daniel McInnis ($40,000), Taylor McKenzie ($52,000), Breanna McKinnon ($52,000), Meredith McLean ($52,000), Jodi Purvis ($52,000), Devonte Quick ($48,000), Jarod Ricks ($52,000) and Molly Russell ($80,000).