MOULTRIE, Ga. — The faculty, staff, and administration of Colquitt County High School encourage their students to pursue post-secondary education. This view is shared by fellow Moultrie and Colquitt County citizens as is evidenced by the number of community-based honors and scholarships awarded during Honors Night on May 3.  

“Because our community realizes that educated citizens are productive citizens, many of the scholarships awarded tonight come from local individuals, businesses, and civic organizations from inside and outside of our school system,” mistress of ceremonies Betsy Jones said during the Senior Honors Night.

Scholarship recipients were chosen by various methods based on the donors’ requests. Some recipients were chosen by the donors while others were selected by a scholarship committee. Recipients chosen by this committee were required to write essays on diverse topics and were judged with the applicants’ names concealed.

The Class of 1988 bestowed a scholarship fund to provide for future classes. The recipient must be an honor graduate who has held at least two club offices. Additionally, applicants had to participate in an essay contest describing how being a club officer enhanced their high school experience. Presented by Dr. Marlon Baker, the recipient of the Class of 1988 scholarship is Mary Grace Watson.

The Debra H. Boyd Scholarship is given to a senior who has demonstrated leadership abilities in the Family and Consumer Sciences and who wrote an essay about the importance of leadership in the field. It was Mrs. Boyd’s desire that “this scholarship might help the children of Moultrie realize their full potential as well as prepare them to do something about making the world a better place.”  Mr. Willard Harper presented this scholarship to Kelliann Howell.

The Dr. F. Lamar Demott Memorial Scholarship fund was established by friends and colleagues of one of Colquitt County’s most beloved and outstanding educators. Teachers from the Visual and Performing Arts departments nominated students for this scholarship. The award was presented by Mrs. Liz Savage to Eva Portillo Molina.

The Ellen Payne Odom Scholarship is awarded to a student with the highest GPA in their world language courses. An essay regarding how the study of another language has enriched the student’s life was a determining factor in selecting the recipient. Alicia Hiers presented this award to Eva Portillo Molina.

The Steve and Teresa Hufstetler Scholarship is given in memory of Frank and Lucy Flowers. Students who applied for this scholarship must be pursuing a college degree and show a financial need. The students had to write an essay explaining what the following statement meant to them: “Success is built by hard work. Success is built by education.”  Lisa Hill presented this scholarship to Tristan Addi.

The Jim Buck Goff Memorial Scholarship is given by friends of the longtime director of the Moultrie Recreation Department to an athlete who displays excellence, leadership, and character.  An essay explaining how the student has demonstrated these characteristics was required.  This award was presented by Rondesha Williams to Caroline Frazier.

The Jim Mack Odom Award for Excellence is given to a student who will pursue a career in education and who submitted an essay on what inspired their career choice. Dr. Marlon Baker presented this award to Kelliann Howell.

The McKee Memorial Scholarship is given to a senior who is interested in pursuing a career in the foreign service of the U.S. Government or a medical career. Presenting the award was Dr. Ben Pitchford. The recipient was Kelsee Brady.

The Vereen Family Scholarships are provided by the Vereen Family. The scholarships are a total of $8,000 each and are given to students on the basis of academic performance, test scores, and an essay in which the applicant described their financial need, community service involvement, and future academic plans. Hannah Vereen Cato made the presentations. The W.C. Vereen “Bud” Vereen Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Michael Crosby, and the W.J. Vereen Scholarship was awarded to Lori Ann King.

School awards

Charlie A. Gray Junior High School presents a scholarship to a graduating senior who excelled academically and demonstrated outstanding character throughout his/her high school career. The recipient was selected as winner of the essay contest entitled “Why is exhibiting strong character an important trait?” Fred Smith presented the award to James Moore.

The Cox Elementary School Scholarship goes to the senior with the highest grade point average who attended Cox Elementary School. Cox’s principal, Jim Horne, presented this scholarship to Yesenia Ponce-Gonzalez.

The Funston Elementary School Scholarship is given to the former student of the school who is an honor student and who has earned the highest grade point average. The award is being presented by Taylor Wood to Eva Portillo Molina.

Doerun Elementary School awards a scholarship each year in memory of Verna Hollingsworth who was the principal of Doerun Elementary from 1979 to 1990. Doerun Elementary SGA President Kayla Cornelius and SGA Vice President Gisselle Fernandez presented this scholarship to James Moore.

Each year the Student Government Association of Hamilton Elementary School presents the Trell Coleman Memorial Scholarship to a former student of Hamilton. The student must exhibit outstanding academic and citizenship qualities. The scholarship is funded jointly by the Coleman family, Hamilton PTO, and the Hamilton Student Government Association. This scholarship goes to Michael Crosby.

The Norman Park Elementary Scholarship goes to the senior with the highest grade point average who attended Norman Park Elementary School. Principal Stacey Rutledge presented this scholarship to Noelle Lang.

The Odom Elementary School Scholarship is given each year in memory of Mr. and Mrs. Jim Mack Odom. The award was presented by Principal Trish Lirio and Odom’s SGA to Caroline Frazier.

The Sunset Elementary Scholarship was established in 1998 in honor of former principal, Jimmy N. Taylor. It is awarded to the Colquitt County High senior, with the highest GPA, who attended Sunset Elementary from kindergarten through fifth grade, has been involved in various school and community activities, and has been accepted to a college or technical institution. The award will be presented by Lisa Hill to Elizabeth Funderburk.

Okapilco Elementary School and the Okapilco Junior Beta Club established a scholarship to honor the Colquitt County High School graduating senior with the highest GPA who was formerly a member of the Okapilco Junior Beta Club, attended Okapilco at least three years, and who has made continuing educational plans. Haley Hagin presented the award to Kelsee Brady.

Stringfellow Elementary School gives a scholarship to a graduate who has excelled academically and participated in extracurricular activities. Stringfellow Principal Tret Witherspoon presented this scholarship to Abriana Stancil.

The O. Marcus Bell Memorial Scholarship is given in memory of Marc Bell, who served as principal of R.B. Wright Elementary School from 2001 through 2015. This scholarship is offered to graduating seniors who attended R.B. Wright under Bell’s watch as principal. Applicants for this scholarship were required to write an essay describing their experience while attending R.B. Wright Elementary School including likes, dislikes, and favorite moments. Three scholarships weree presented this year with each recipient being awarded $500. Harrison Powell presented the scholarship on behalf of R.B. Wright PTO along with Kinley Nash, R.B. Wright BETA president and Chason Glenn, R. B. Wright SGA president. The scholarship recipients were Alexis Griner, Mary Grace Watson and Laura Lee Murphy.

The SGA at Williams Middle School follows students who made a difference at Williams Middle School and who have continued to do so at CCHS. Dr. Marlon Baker presented this award to Mary Grace Watson.

Community and Clubs

Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College presented a scholarship to an exemplary senior who will be attending ABAC in the fall. Jena Willis, ABAC on the Square coordinator presented this award to Eva Portillo Molina.

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated was founded on January 15, 1908 on the campus of Howard University in Washington, DC. Since its inception, the sorority has impacted countless lives locally, nationally and internationally through its mission to cultivate and encourage high scholastic and ethical standards, to study and help alleviate problems concerning girls and women in order to improve their social stature, to maintain a progressive interest in college life, and to be of “Service to All Mankind.” Udella Spicer and Elaine Daniels presented a scholarship to Abiyah Spencer.

The next scholarship was awarded in honor and memory of the late Becky Bevacqua. Bevacqua was a woman who found joy and passion in teaching and learning and who continued to do both throughout her life. This scholarship is awarded to a student who has shown academic excellence demonstrated by their membership in the National Honor Society and /or Advanced Placement courses, as well as a strong interest in higher learning and high quality education — all of which were so important to Bevacqua. Cindy Smith presented this scholarship to Patricia Dominguez-Dominguez.

Colquitt County Retired Educators’ Association presents scholarships to deserving students who have expressed a desire to become classroom teachers. Two memorial scholarships were presented by Walter Harrison III. The Sarah Mashburn Memorial Scholarship went to Lori Ann King, and the Colquitt County Retired Educators Scholarship was presented to Kelliann Howell.

Colquitt County Association of Educators, the local affiliate of the Georgia Association of Educators, presents a scholarship to a senior who plans to have a career in education and whose parent is a member of the Georgia Association of Educators. Mike Marshall, president, presented the awards to Hennessy Arnold, Lori Ann King and Randi Tapscott.

The Colquitt County Teachers Federal Credit Union plays a major role in the local board of education, offering a variety of financial services for the faculty and staff of the Colquitt County school system and their families. Scholarships will be presented this evening to two children of credit union members who met the scholarship eligibility criteria. These students demonstrated strong academic achievement, were involved in extracurricular activities and community service, and submitted essays regarding their career aspirations. Colquitt County Teachers Federal Credit Union President Keith Adams and CEO Sally Yarbrough presented these scholarships to Patricia Mitchell and Abiyah Spencer.

The Colquitt Regional Medical Center awards scholarships based on the number of hours volunteered through YoVo, Colquitt Regional’s Youth Volunteer Program. This year, 11 Colquitt County Seniors volunteered at the hospital and met CRMC scholarship requirements. Colquitt Regional Medical Center representatives Nicole Gilbert and Doni Holt presented awards to: Morgann Fedd, Cyera Haynes, Selena Meza, Eyona Moore, Samantha Murphy, Sonny Patel, Karla Rodriguez-Rubio, Shirley Sparks, Brooke Taylor, Vicky Zhang and Leamon Madison.

The Rev. J.E. Moak was the chaplain for many years at Colquitt Regional Medical Center. Colquitt Regional Medical Center Volunteer Services honors Moak’s memory by presenting scholarships to students with a grade point average of at least 3.0 who have applied for college and are pursuing a career in the field of medicine. On behalf of CRMC Volunteer Services, President Betty Shiflett and Brenda Foy presented these scholarships to Keri Brown and Brooke Taylor.

The DOCO Credit Union serves the residents of Colquitt County and their families by offering a full line of financial services. Dr. Ben Pitchford presented a scholarship to individuals who have met the criteria for this award which includes academic achievement and a well-rounded blend of extra-curricular activities. The recipients are Eyona Moore and Michael Crosby.

The Region 1-7A High Schools recognize student athletes for their accomplishments on and off the playing field. Every year, each school nominates a male and female scholar athlete. Those students must submit an application and essay highlighting their GPA, class rank, non-athletic extracurricular activities, and community service experience. All of the principals from the Region 1-7A schools vote on the award winners. The recipient of the Region 1-7A Female Scholar Athlete award, presented by Rondesha Williams, was Diamond Hall.

The Georgia Association of Secondary School Principals, in conjunction with Lifetouch School Photography, offers scholarships to select aspiring seniors throughout the state. As a member of the board of directors for GASSP, Stephanie Terrell, principal of Colquitt County High School, presented one of those scholarships to Elizabeth Funderburk.

HOSA, a future health care professionals organization at Colquitt County High, honored a HOSA member for her excellence in academic achievement and leadership in the organization with a monetary scholarship. Molly Jacobs presented the award to Patricia Dominguez-Dominguez.

Hope House offers The Stand For Life Scholarship with a value of $2,000 to a senior that attends CCHS. The recipient must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher and be a born again believer in Jesus Christ that is active in church and church youth programs. They must also live a life that reflects the values and morals of the Bible and holds the truth that all life is valuable and has a God given right to life. The recipient led a book study for their peers with the book, “Stand for Life: A Student’s Guide For Making The Case and Saving Lives,” written by John Ensor and Scott Klusendorf. Katrina Bivins, CEO of Hope House of Moultrie, Inc., presented Hope House’s Stand for Life Scholarship to Autumn Roberts.


Mr. & Mrs. Jimmy Jeter donate scholarships in memory of their daughter Kate Jeter, a former student of Colquitt County High School. Kate had a gift of reaching out to others and trying to make everyone she encountered feel special. In addition to excelling academically and serving in community activities, the recipients were required to write an autobiography. The Jeters presented these scholarships to: Caroline Frazier, Diamond Hall, Harrison Kebler, Patricia Mitchell, James Moore and Eva Portillo Molina.

Kay Holloway presented a scholarship in memory of her daughter, Katelyn Renee Holloway, to a former J.M. Odom Elementary student who has displayed academic excellence during his/her high school career. The recipient of the Katelyn Renee Holloway Memorial Scholarship for 2018 was Caroline Frazier.

Kiwanis Club member Angela Castellow presented three scholarships to deserving seniors. The Elsie Creech Memorial Scholarship is given to a student who has demonstrated the ability to undertake college work and participate in extracurricular activities; the recipient was Patricia Mitchell. The William B. Withers Memorial Scholarship is presented to a student who has proven to be an outstanding leader; this year’s winner was Mary Grace Watson. The Nita Belle Scarbrough Memorial Scholarship is presented to a student who has achieved exemplary grades and test scores and also participated in extracurricular activities; the recipient was Kelsee Brady.

The Moultrie High School Class of 1955 presents a scholarships to a senior who has excelled academically and plans to continue their education. Shelby Bennett presented the scholarship to Sierra Bullard.

The Moultrie Board of Realtors offers a scholarship to Colquitt County High School seniors who plan to pursue a secondary degree, excelled in classes while in high school, demonstrated outstanding leadership, and have a financial need to further their education. Applicants were required to write an essay about themselves and their plans for the future. Don Moore, president of the Moultrie Board of Realtors, presented this scholarship to Lori Ann King.

The Moultrie Federated Guild presents a scholarship to a senior with excellent academic qualities and school attendance. He or she must have a history of community service and extracurricular activities. Gail Thompson presented awards to Mary Grace Watson and John Edwards.

The Moultrie Junior Woman’s Club awards two scholarships for seniors who excel academically and serve their community. Felicia Richardson, the current chair of the Education Committee for the Moultrie Junior Woman’s Club, presented the award. Applicants for the The Moultrie Junior Woman’s Club Scholarship were required to have a minimum GPA of 85 or above, write an essay about the importance of community service, and provide evidence of their community service involvement. The recipient is Mary Grace Watson.

The Knuck McCrary Scholarship is given in honor of the longtime Packers coach to a student based on grades and extracurricular achievement. Applicants were required to have a minimum GPA of 85 or above, write an essay about the importance of being involved in school and community activities, and provide evidence of their extracurricular activities and achievement. The recipient is Eyona Moore.

The Moultrie Service League’s mission is to serve the community in economic, educational, cultural, civic and social areas. This organization offers a scholarship to Colquitt County High School seniors who take classes in the fine arts and who plan to pursue a secondary degree in a fine arts field. Applicants were required to write an essay on how the arts have affected them and helped them prepare for their future plans. Rebecca Mobley, Moultrie Service League president, presented scholarships to Elijah Massey and Kelsee Brady.

The National Society of the Colonial Dames of America actively promotes our national heritage through historic preservation, patriotic service, and educational projects. On behalf of this organization,  Judy Mobley awarded a scholarship to Brooke Taylor.

The Richard Fulford Agricultural Achievement scholarship is awarded to a senior at Colquitt County High School with a strong passion for the agricultural industry who also plans to pursue a degree and career in that particular field of study. Will McCoy from Lasseter Tractor presented this year’s $1,000 scholarship to Mary Logan Tostenson.

The James Ray “Rocky” Jones Foundation was established in 2009 to assist young adults in their academic and athletic pursuits. The winner of this scholarship was selected based on an essay submitted by the student describing why they would be a worthy recipient. Wendy Horne and April Powell presented the 2016 Rocky’s Foundation Scholarship to Patricia Mitchell.

The Moultrie Rotary Club offers a four-year scholarship to a senior with outstanding grades and a commitment to community service. This year’s award was presented by the club’s president Shamb Purohit to Brooke Taylor.

To qualify for the “Service of Excellence” scholarship, students must be in the third year of the Graphic Arts pathway and have participated in the summer “Get Ahead” program. Based on their hours of service beyond the traditional classroom requirement, four students received a 13-inch MacBook Pro and an Adobe Cloud subscription for one year so they can continue to learn and design after graduation to further their development in the area of graphic arts and communications. They have spent extra hours in the summer as well as before and after school — traveling for training, competitions, and graphic installations, as well as working with community and school partners on design and print projects throughout their time as ambassadors for the graphic arts program pathway. Jason Van Nus and the graphic arts department awarded the “Service of Excellence” scholarship to Cheyenne Starkey, Lili Martin-Rivera, Micah Lawhorne and James Mercer.

Be the Light Candles would like to offer a scholarship for a student who has demonstrated an outstanding ability to design, create, and collaborate on labels for their product. On behalf of that organization, Jason Van Nus presented this award to Lili Martin-Rivera.

The Sha Byrd Soccer Scholarship is given to honor the life of Sha Wetherington, a former member of the Lady Packer soccer team. Wetherington was a second-team all-region player as a sophomore and first-team all-region her junior and senior years. She was voted team captain her senior year. The scholarship is given by the Wetherington family and Sha Missions, a non-profit organization dedicated to continue Sha’s special gift of sharing hope around the world. Duane and Jeanine Wetheringto presented this scholarship to Sugeili Gachuz.

Southern Regional Technical College recognized one exceptional Dual Enrollment student with a $500 scholarship funded by the Southern Regional Technical College Foundation. Christie Brown will be presenting this scholarship to Leah Nieves.

William G. “Bill” Edwards was a faithful supporter of Colquitt County and its youth. His family honors his memory by awarding a scholarship to a student who has demonstrated an ability to maintain good grades, who desire to obtain a college degree, and who have submitted an autobiography. Bonnie Edwards presented the William G. Edwards Memorial Scholarship to Shirley Sparks.

Jonathan Edwards was a friend to everyone he met. His family is honoring his memory by awarding a scholarship to a student who has demonstrated an ability to maintain good grades, desire to obtain a college degree, and submitted an autobiography. Jonathan Edwards Sr. presented the Jonathan Edwards Jr. Memorial Scholarship to Abriana Stancil.

The Moultrie-Colquitt County Chamber of Commerce depicts their motto of Living History, Growing Future. The Moultrie-Colquitt County Chamber of Commerce  and the Agricultural and Rural Services Committee sponsor a scholarship for a student who plans to major in an agriculturally related field. Representing the Agricultural and Rural Services Committee, Allen McCorvey awarded this scholarship to James Moore.

The Wendy’s High School Heisman Scholarship was created by Wendy’s founder Dave Thomas in 1994. Dave Thomas dropped out of high school when he was 15 years old in order to work full-time and went on to become one of the most successful entrepreneurs in history. While this nontraditional path led to his prosperity, it always worried him that others would expect to achieve similar fame and wealth by not finishing high school or attending college. Wendy’s has honored more than 600,000 of the nation’s most esteemed high school seniors who share Wendy’s values of giving back to their communities, treating people with respect, continuing education and excelling on the athletic field. Jennifer Scarberry, district area manager for Wendy’s, acknowledged a CCHS student who was the Wendy’s Heisman winner for the state of Georgia: Elizabeth Funderburk.

The Woodmen Life Chapter #104 gave a scholarship in memory of Marvin “Ralph” Dorminey. He was a faithful supporter of Colquitt County’s youth. His family and Woodmen Life honor his memory by awarding a scholarship to a student who has maintained good grades, abstained from disciplinary issues, plans to attend college, and submitted an essay on patriotism. Mackenzie Blair presented the Ralph Dorminey memorial scholarship to Selena Meza.

The Woodmen Life Chapter #104 also gave a scholarship in memory of William “Bill” Johnson. He was an avid supporter and follower of Packer sports. He was very handy and skillful in many different trades. Johnson was a firm believer in hands-on technical training. His family and Woodmen Life honor his memory by awarding a scholarship to a student who has maintained good grades, abstains from disciplinary issues, plans to attend a technical school, and submitted an essay on patriotism. Jessie Ann Blair presented the William “Bill” Johnson memorial scholarship to Nicholas David.

Mediacom’s World Class Scholarships are awarded annually to recognize outstanding high school seniors who have demonstrated excellent leadership skills. Darryl Chaney, area director for Mediacom, presented their award to Mary Grace Watson.

The Colquitt County Achievement Scholarship recognizes a senior with an outstanding academic record and the desire to pursue a postsecondary degree. This award was presented by Alicia Hiers to Vicky Zhang.

The Principal’s Achievement Award is given to seniors who have shown exemplary achievement in the classroom and have demonstrated the traits of strong character, integrity, and a tremendous work ethic. Stephanie Terrell  presents this Principal’s Award to Patricia Mitchell and Elizabeth Funderburk.

The Ultimate Packer Leadership Awards are designed to honor students who embody the characteristics of a great leader and who exemplify the Packer Spirit. The administrative team collaborates to nominate and choose these scholarship recipients. Stephanie Terrell and Alicia Hiers awarded the “Ultimate Packer Leadership Awards” to JuDarius Andrews, Morgann Fedd, Caroline Frazier, Eyona Moore, James Moore and Mary Logan Tostenson.