What happens when four students in Greene County have an opportunity to attend the colleges of their choice? If they are four students who have been awarded the Lawton Scholarship, they are showing what good students look like and making their families — and Greene County — proud.

All four of the current scholars achieved better than a 3.5 GPA this year, well above the required 3.0 to continue receiving the scholarship. They returned home this summer to work, relax, and have a little fun. They were recently treated to dinner at the home of Greg and Anna Lawton along with the two newest scholars. I had a chance to catch up with them at this dinner, and I am pleased to share their successes.

The 2016 scholars, Darrell Evans and Tionna Thornton, recently completed their sophomore year at Georgia College in Milledgeville and Augusta University, respectively. Evans continues his major in business management. He worked as a community advisor in his residence hall, building relationships with the residents who lived there. Evans enjoyed all his classes, to his own surprise. He says that his professors are passionate about what they teach, which makes the learning more enjoyable for him. He has learned, too, that college professors have very different teaching styles that he had to adapt to, but he says he is starting to look at internships and investigating the business professions that really interest him.

Thornton will start her junior year enrolled in the College of Education at Augusta University with a major in mathematics and history. She aspires to attend graduate school to study curriculum and instruction and hopes to get an assistantship to gain some experience while in Augusta. Her academic achievement resulted in Thornton being invited to be a member of Kappa Delta Epsilon Honors Society. She also shared her excitement about a course she took in African American Women’s History. She says that it taught her so much about her own history and helped her grow as a student, adding, “It was one of the top memories that I have had so far.” She says she has learned it is “alright to ask for help in college.” She began going to some tutoring sessions that she attributes to helping her achieve a 4.0 GPA for the spring semester. She says that familiarity with the campus and the resources that it has to offer will be helpful to her going forward.

The 2017 scholars, Maria Moreno Rodriguez and Kenyatta Hutchinson, both completed their freshman year at the University of Georgia. They spent their first year as roommates, helping each other negotiate all the “ins and outs” of college. Rodriguez joined the Hispanic Student Association and was named to the Freshman Executive Board. She says that this helped her make great friends and get to know about other opportunities on campus. Rodriguez says, “It was difficult going outside my comfort zone, but joining clubs was a way for me to branch out and get the full experience of being a student at UGA.” 

Rodriguez has set high goals for herself for the upcoming year. She wants to focus on organization and time management. She says that it will be much less stressful finding all her classes now that she knows the campus. She is currently a communication sciences and disorders major and plans to attend graduate school to complete a master’s degree.

Hutchinson enjoyed college sports in addition to the academics. She says she loved watching the ‘Dawgs win the SEC Championship and go on to the National Championship game. She looks forward to the start of football season this year, but she recognizes that academics is the reason she is at UGA. As a marketing major with a Certificate in Entrepreneurship, she says, “I always keep in my mind that my grades come first.” 

Hutchinson reaped the benefit of this thinking. She was chosen as one of 20 students from across the country to attend the Diversity Scholars Symposium in New York, offered by Willis Towers Watson. The purpose of the symposium was to focus on diversity and inclusion in the workforce. She was also accepted into the Top Talent Management Fellows program, sponsored by Price Waterhouse Coopers, through the Terry College of Business at UGA. In this program, She and her team won a competition for developing a marketing strategy for improving diversity at UGA. Both of these programs afforded the opportunity to meet and work with other students and professionals in marketing and management. Hutchinson looks forward to her sophomore year. She has been appointed to be events coordinator for a campus organization called “For the Girls,” which strives to connect and empower minority women at UGA.

The Lawton Family Scholarship began in 2016. The Lawtons have established the direction and purpose of their Scholarship Fund, which is to inspire hope, build futures, and transform the lives of teens in Greene County. 

The Lawton Family Scholarship is currently the largest private scholarship fund in Greene County.

ATLAS Ministry partners with the Lawtons to administer the scholarship fund. Students who have participated in an ATLAS program are eligible to apply for the

scholarship. A selection team reviews the applications against specific criteria. The top students selected by the team interview with the Lawton family who makes the decision on recipients. To be eligible for the ongoing scholarship funds, students must have a verified 3.0 overall GPA and show proof of enrollment for the subsequent semester.

All four scholars are doing outstanding college and community work and show great promise as future leaders. They represent Greene County well and are strong role models for our students. Congratulations to these fine young people!

-Submitted by Dr. Susan Young, ATLAS Ministry, Inc.