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.

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Molly Russell, right, was named valedictorian for the Raider Class of 2015 while John Pittman was named salutatorian.
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.

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Bobbie Sue Ormsby presents Trey McInnis and, not pictured, Katie Satterfield with the Ed Ormsby Memorial Scholarship.
* 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.”

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Kiera Powell, right, was awarded the Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship, awarded by the Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Committee.
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).

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Meredith McLean reacts after being awarded the State Employee’s Credit Union’s “People Helping People” Scholarship.

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Jewell Price, who is set to retire as guidance counselor from Richmond Senior High School, was recognized with the Honored Service Award.
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