Editorial: Congrats to recipients of Georgia Baptist Education Commission scholarships

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Some of Georgia’s best and brightest students have been awarded scholarships to attend Brewton-Parker College, Shorter University and Truett McConnell University where they will receive educations that are second to none.

Their academic achievements show their intellectual prowess. Their steadfast commitment to Christ testify to their spiritual strength. Those attributes, combined with other academic and extracurricular measures, earned them Student Achievement Award scholarships from the Georgia Baptist Education Commission.

“When we reviewed this year’s applications, we were struck by their academic achievements, their extracurricular involvement, and, most importantly, their commitment to the Lord and to their churches,” said Mark Marshall, the Georgia Baptist Mission Board’s assistant executive director who oversees the scholarship program on behalf of the Education Commission.

Marshall said the students’ decisions to attend one of Georgia’s three Baptist institutions were a first step in preparing them to engage a culture that seems to be drifting farther from God.

“At Brewton-Parker, Shorter and Truett McConnell, these students will not only receive high-quality educations but will also be given opportunities to grow in the faith and exercise their spiritual gifts,” he said. “The students we’re honoring with these scholarships today will be outstanding ministry leaders of tomorrow because of what will happen in their lives on these campuses over the next four years.”

The scholarships are for $1,000 a year for four years of undergraduate studies.

Kudos to Georgia Baptists for recognizing the value of higher education and the role of the state’s three Baptist institutions in preparing the next generation of Christian leaders.

And kudos to each of the scholars as well as to their parents, pastors, youth pastors, Sunday school teachers, and small group leaders who poured into them over the past 18 or so years.

Here, as reported previously on the Index’s news pages, are this year’s scholarship winners:

Barry Waymack, a graduate of Lanier Christian Academy and member of North Metro Baptist Church in Lawrenceville. He plans to attend Truett McConnell.

Claire Massengale, a graduate of Eagles Landing Christian Academy and a member of Eagles Landing First Baptist Church. She plans to attend Truett McConnell.

Taylor West, a graduate of Sonoraville High School and a member of Sonoraville Baptist Church. She plans to attend Shorter University.

Toby Gunter, a graduate of Grayson High School and a member of Mount Zion Baptist Church. He plans to attend Truett McConnell.

Aiden Van Laar, a graduate of Oconee County High School and a member of Green Acres Baptist Church. He plans to attend Truett McConnell.

Avery Van Lar, a graduate of Oconee County High School and a member of Green Acres Baptist Church. She plans to attend Truett McConnell.

Ashtin Elizabeth Strickland, a graduate of Franklin County High School and a member of Bethany Baptist Church. She plans to attend Truett McConnell.

Bethany Underwood, a graduate of Dodge County High School and a member of First Baptist Church in Eastman. She plans to attend Brewton-Parker.

Brinkley Kate Reed, a graduate of Coahulla Creek High School and a member of Salem Baptist Church in Dalton. She plans to attend Truett McConnell.

Cade Wheeler, a graduate of Barrow Arts and Science Academy and a member of River Hills Church in Winder. He plans to attend Truett McConnell.

Caroline Karnes, a graduate of Union County School and a member of Antioch Baptist Church in Blairsville. She plans to attend Truett McDonnell.

Holden Waymack, a graduate of Lanier Christian Academy and a member of North Metro Baptist Church. He plans to attend Truett McConnell.

Hope Williams, a graduate of Villa Rica High School and a member of First Baptist Church Villa Rica. She plans to attend Truett McConnell.

Kameron Probst, a graduate of Lafayette Christian School and a member of Fountain Baptist Church in LaGrange. He plans to attend Shorter University.

Kate Crunkleton, a graduate of Calvary Day School and a member of Skidaway Island Baptist Church in Savannah. She plans to attend Shorter University.

Katie Rose Stanfield, a graduate of Christian Heritage High School in Dalton and a member of Liberty Baptist Church in Chatsworth. She plans to attend Truett McConnell.

Kayla Dutton, a graduate of The King’s Academy and a member of First Baptist Church of Woodstock. She plans to attend Truett McConnell.

Kenzie Osborn, a graduate of Armuchee High School in Rome and a member of Mt. Alto Baptist Church. She plans to attend Shorter University.

Logan Guay, a home school graduate and a member of Warren Baptist Church in Augusta. He plans to attend Truett McConnell.

Maddie Castleberry, a graduate of Dawson County High School and a member of Bethel Baptist Church. She plans to attend Truett McConnell.

Mae Louise Sullens, a graduate of Sullens Academy and a member of Faith Baptist Church in Monroe. She plans to attend Truett McConnell.

Makayla Brooke Harris, a graduate of Jackson High School and a member of Jackson First Baptist Church. She plans to attend Truett McConnell.

Mary Grace Lemmings, a graduate of Bremen High School and a member of Journey Fellowship Baptist Church. She plans to attend Shorter University.

Noah Gilliam, a graduate of Calvary Day School and a member of Calvary Baptist Temple in Savannah. He plans to attend Shorter University.

Rheanna Dotson, a home school graduate and a member of Porterfield Baptist Church in Macon. She plans to attend Truett McConnell.

Samuel Turner, a graduate of Central High School in Carrollton and a member of Roopville Road Baptist Church. He plans to attend Truett McConnell.