Five outstanding students who invested in community service in Rockdale County are finalists for the Rockdale Coalition for Children and Families’ 2016 John K. Morgan Scholarship. This is the sixth year the Rockdale Coalition has offered the $4,000 scholarship to a student who has demonstrated outstanding community service in Rockdale County and plans to continue that level of commitment while pursuing post-secondary education. The scholarship is named for John K. Morgan, former president and chief executive officer of Acuity Brands Lighting and community advocate.

Since the inception of the John K. Morgan Scholarship, more than $33,500 has been awarded to deserving students in Conyers and Rockdale County. Finalists for the 2016 John K. Morgan Scholarship include: Walden Brown (Heritage High School), Patricia Foster (Heritage High School), LauraAnne Hooley (Rockdale Magnet School for Science and Technology), Adam North (Heritage High School) and Jessica Quevedo (Salem High School).

“We were once again overwhelmed by the talent and commitment these students have shown throughout their careers by giving so much of their time and talents to help others in need,” said Director of Rockdale Coalition for Children and Families Michael Hutcheson.

Highlights of community service demonstrated by the five finalists include:

Walden Brown is a faithful and passionate volunteer at the Yellow Brick House, is involved with Meals on Wheels, Force Football for special needs students at Heritage High School and Family Promise.

Patricia Foster saw a need and created a charity organization to address it. Her organization, Girls 2 Go, aims to assist homeless women and sexual abuse victims by providing feminine products and toiletries to women at facilities like Phoenix Pass.

LauraAnne Hooley is active in her church, Rockdale Baptist, and her school’s Magnet Association of Student Activities. She also supports the efforts of a non-profit organization, Home of the Swallow, and its efforts to support single women and their children.

Adam North is very involved with special needs mentoring and Force Football at Heritage High School. He is also active with his church, Rockdale Baptist.

Jessica Quevedo can be counted on to volunteer in all aspects of service at St. Pius X Catholic Church and volunteering for her passion, teaching young children, as part of the Rockdale Career Academy’s Early Learning Center.

The scholarship winner will be announced at the Rockdale Coalition for Children and Families Annual Awards Reception at the Rockdale Career Academy at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, March 18. The event is open to the public and tickets are available at the Rockdale Coalition office for $15.00. Tickets may also be purchased online at http://2016coalitionawards.brownpapertickets.com. The event includes food catered by students in the Rockdale Career Academy culinary arts program and recognition of the scholarship finalists.

The 2016 recipient of the F. William Hughey Community Service Award will be presented to Claire Cline. The award is presented annually to a person who has demonstrated outstanding community service in Rockdale County. Cline recently retired as executive director of United Way for Rockdale County and has notably served on innumerable volunteer committees, including the Conyers-Rockdale Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Rockdale for many years, and is an active participant in the community. A $500 cash donation will be given to the local community service organization of Ms. Cline’s choice.

For more information or tickets to the Rockdale Coalition for Children and Families Annual Awards Reception, call 770-761-9244 or email Michael Hutcheson at [email protected] .