For more than a decade, the 100 Black Men of Grenada, Inc., has helped to send students off to college with scholarship money. Last Tuesday, the group gathered to award monies to 20 area graduates.
“We use the money raised at our annual golf tournament along with our annual scholarship gala,” president Roger Givens said of the program that has been in place since 2009. “Due to COVID, there hasn’t been a gala since 2019, but we had several area businesses step up to help us. On average, we have awarded 13-15 scholarships. We made it to 20 this year for the first time ever.”
Givens said the main purpose of the scholarships is to help young people further their education.
“The main purpose of our group is to help youth,” he said. “We hope this will encourage them to go on to school. It’s a great opportunity to do it. Most of these students we give scholarships to have certain needs beyond normal. We try to focus more on need – good grades are fine, obviously, but we have some other needs, also.”
The group awarded each student a $500 scholarship for a total of $10,000 awarded.
Seventeen of the students recognized were from Grenada High School, while three finished their education at Coffeeville High School. Those from GHS receiving scholarships included, Antonio Blackmon Jr., Ric’Kiyah Bowdry, Jaquon Bledsoe, Zaquarrius Cobbs, Teekeo Conley, Takiya Hemphill, Madison Hughes, Jerkeria Johnson, Nykia Johnson, Tramiah Leason, Kelly Nino Moran, Jalyn Patterson, Jaheim Shack, Alexis Smith, Jordan Topps, Maki Topps and Mersie Watkins.
Coffeeville students awarded scholarships were Angel Neal, Ty’Kerria Robinson and Shadarius Williams.
