On Monday, June 5th, the Rockdale County Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (Rockdale NAACP) awarded four $1,000 scholarships to Rockdale County 2023 high school graduates during its monthly meeting. The scholarships were awarded to Kobe Bowen, Erica Frank, Justine McPherson, and Galilea Najara.
Kobe Bowen of Salem High School will attend the University of West Georgia; Erica Frank of Rockdale High School will attend Agnes Scott College; Justine McPherson of Heritage High School will attend Emory University; and Galilea Najara Garcia of the Rockdale Magnet School for Science and Technology will attend the University of Georgia.
To receive the scholarship, applications had to be graduating seniors that attended a Rockdale County high school. The applicants were required to write an essay that outlined their achievements in school and in the community, as well as describe why they should be given the prestigious scholarship. Also, the selection committee took SAT scores and financial need into consideration, among other criteria.
The scholarships are awarded annually and money for the scholarships comes from the Rockdale NAACP’s Freedom Fund Dinner. The Freedom Fund Dinner, which this year was held on Saturday, March 18, 2017, exists to provide scholarships for career-driven youth in the community. Located at the Georgia International Horse Park, this annual dinner helps raise money for the scholarships, as well as other programs to support youth in the community. At the banquet, the Rockdale NAACP also provides several awards to active members of our community for the advancement of equality and justice.
The Rockdale NAACP has been hosting its annual banquet since 1988. During the first banquet, the key speaker was Mrs. Linda Aiken Young, the first African-American school principal in Rockdale County.
The organization has created a legacy for countless young people to live up to as they grow up into influential citizens of the community. After its establishment in 1988, the NAACP chapter has worked for over two decades to provide aid for youth in their academics, personal lives, and future careers. Year after year, the Rockdale NAACP provides countless resources for Rockdale youth to teach them one of the NAACP’s more important motto, “Stand for Freedom”.
For more information about the Rockdale NAACP, visit www.rockdalenaacp.com.
