Newspaper Page Text
Wednesday, November 3, 2021 - Pike County Journal Reporter - Page 3B
Scholarships awarded to Pike,
Upson students
SUBMITTED PHOTOS
Students from Pike County High School and Upson-Lee who earned the Concerned Citizens of
Pike scholarships include (l-r) Ma’Sherie Blackmon, Zykia Buffin, Tayla Moreland and Jada Willis.
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Pictured (l-r) are Rock Springs pastor Benny Tate, Tim
Gordon and Bruce Reagan.
Bluebird donates school
bus to Rock Springs
Christian Academy
The Concerned
Citizens of Pike County
awarded scholarships to
five high school seniors
from Pike County High
School and Upson-Lee
High School. A commit
tee selected students
based on grade point
average (GPA), SAT or
ACT score, letters of
recommendation and a
biographical essay. Each
student was awarded
a scholarship in the
amount of $500.
Rev. Herman Lucas is
the president of the Con
cerned Citizens for Pike.
Zykia Buffin is an
Upson-Lee High School
All-A Honor graduate.
She is a member of the
Beta Club and National
Honor Society. Zykia
plans to attend Gordon
State College to pursue
a degree in nursing. She
aspires to become an
obstetrician-gynecologist
nurse and one day own
and operate an OB-GYN
facility in her hometown.
She is the daughter of Ed
die Raven Parks, 111 and
Sharon Parks.
Jada Willis is a Pike
County High School Hon
or Graduate. She plans to
attend Kennesaw State
University and major in
middle grades education
with a concentration in
mathematics. Jada plans
to teach math to middle
grade students because
she sees a need in this
age group. She enjoys
playing basketball, shop
ping and riding horses.
Jada is the daughter of
Roosevelt and Manika
Willis.
JaVion O’Neal is a
2021 Pike County High
School Honor Graduate.
He plans to attend the
University of West Geor
gia in the fall to purse a
degree in business with
a minor in electrical
technology. JaVion plans
to own his own business
after he finishes college.
He enjoys spending time
with friends and playing
basketball. JaVion is the
son of Andre Johnson
and Maurice and Janelle
Ogletree.
Ma’Sherie Black
mon is a senior at Pike
County High School.
She is a member of the
Beta Club. After gradua
tion Ma’Sherie plans to
attend Gordon State Col
lege to pursue a degree
in computer science
and become a software
engineer. She enjoys
shopping, cooking,
playing card games and
taking care of her puppy,
Pedro. Ma’Sherie is the
daughter of Marcus and
Kimberly Blackmon.
Tayla Moreland is a se
nior at Pike County High
School. She is an athlete
who excels in track and
has won many awards
in the region and at the
state level. Because of
her astounding track
abilities, she was award
ed a track scholarship
JaVion O’Neal earned one of
the Concerned Citizens of
Pike scholarships.
from Kennesaw State
University. Tayla plans to
pursue a degree in physi
cal therapy and aspires
to be a fitness trainer.
Tayla is the daughter
of Reginald and Tammy
Moreland.
Rock Springs Chris
tian Academy recently
announce that Bluebird
Bus of Georgia donated
a 2018 school bus to the
school.
“God continues
to show himself
faithful. Praise the
Lord. Thank you, Blue
bird, for being so gener
ous to our school,” said
Head of School Bruce
Reagan.
RSCA will use the bus
to benefit each student
at Rock Springs Chris
tian Academy.
“This bus will be put
to great use and allow
students more oppor
tunity when it comes to
transportation options,”
said RSCA communica
tions director Marlee
Albrecht. “RSCA would
like to thank Bluebird
for being so generous
in this donation to their
school.”
Hope 4 Tomorrow Optimist Club presents Optimist, Community Award
The Optimist Club partnered
with Mattie’s Kitchen for the
Celebrate Community initia
tive and delivered food to the
Zebulon Police Department
(left) and the Pike Sheriff’s
Office (right). Below, Optimist
members for 2021 -22 were
elected on Oct. 19.
The Hope 4 Tomor
row Optimist Club of Pike
County held the end of the
year Banquet Celebration
at Friendship Presbyterian
Church in Concord on
Sept. 25.
“Our club celebrated a
great year that was filled
with sharing optimism
and hope to our club and
community. We also hon
ored two of our members
that went beyond the call
of duty by awarding them
with the Optimist Award
and Community Award,”
said Optimist Club presi
dent Rufus Clemmons.
Michael Powell was
honored with the Com
munity Award for his
outstanding work not only
for our club but our com
munity through his work
as the director of our local
Family Connection.
“He is able to maintain
his presence in our com
munity by continuing to
share his knowledge and
resources to connect our
community and organiza
tions who need services -
despite him going through
a series of personal
obstacles himself. Michael
Powell is a God-fearing
and caring person who
truly looks out for the
welfare of others.”
Emmanuel Lucas was
awarded with the Opti
mist Award for his com
mitment and dedication
to the Optimist Club and
willingness to go beyond
what is asked of him to
better himself, the club
and the community.
“Emmanuel is a well-
mannered and humble
young man who is always
looking to better himself
and those around him. 1
am super proud of him
and know the sky is the
limit to what he is going to
bring to our club and com
munity,” said Clemmons.
The Optimist Club
partnered with Mat
tie’s Kitchen on Oct. 13
to celebrate Optimist
International’s Celebrate
Community initiative in
serving communities.
The two local organiza
tions that members chose
to serve included first
responders and heroes at
the Pike County Sheriff De
partment, Zebulon Police
Department and Health
Department.
“Our organizations
were also able to serve
some of the residents of
Concord, giving our over
all total of more than 100
participants served. It was
my first event collaborat
ing with the Optimist Club
and it was great partner
ship and looking forward
doing more with them,”
said Mattie’s Kitchen
director and founder and
Optimist Club member
Christy Finley Welch.
Hope 4 Tomorrow
Optimist members were
installed for the 2021-2022
Optimist Calendar year
on Oct. 19 by the GATE-
way District’s Governor
Gerald Johnson. Mem
bers include president/
founder Rufus Clemmons,
president elect Emman
uel Lucas, secretary and
treasurer Vanessa Clem
mons, club foundation
representative Angelia
Jones, Hope 4 Tomorrow
representative Patricia
Dabbs and members
Charles Burden, Susan
Chaney, Ortearia Hamm,
John Hanson, Floyd
Miller, Vanetta Moss, Mike
Powell, Laura Chambley-
Shadrick, Harland Smith,
Giancarlo Walker, Christy
Finley-Welch and Carson
Wynn.
SUBMITTED PHOTOS
Above, Emmanuel Lucas was awarded the Optimist Award for his commitment and dedication to the club. Pictured are (l-r)
Hope 4 Tomorrow Optimist Club of Pike secretary Vanessa Clemmons, president Rufus Clemmons, president elect Emmanuel
Lucas and his mother Patricia Lucas. Below, Michael Powell was honored with the Community Award for his outstanding work
to make the club and the community better. Pictured are (l-r) Vanessa Clemmons, Rufus Clemmons, Michael Powell and his
wife Debbie Powell.
On Oct. 16 at the GATE-
way District Conference
in Chattanooga, Ten
nessee, President Rufus
Clemmons was installed
to serve as president
again for this year term.
He will also serve for the
third straight year as the
District’s Inspirational
Speaker/Chaplin.
For more informa
tion about the club or to
become a member, go to
H4TpikeOptimist.org and
find the Hope 4 Tomorrow
Pike County Optimist Club
on Facebook.