The Suffolk Education Foundation recently announced the recipients of this year’s college scholarships. This year, the Foundation awarded $18,500 to help 13 local high school graduates continue their education. Since 1993, the Foundation has committed more than $350,000 in college scholarships for local high school students.

The three recipients of the annual Jean and Harry L. Cross Jr. Endowment Scholarship are Kamarie Jewette of Nansemond River High School, Myra Bailey of Lakeland High School and Aliah King of King’s Fork High School. Jewette plans to study civil engineering at George Mason University. Bailey will study chemical engineering at the University of Virginia. King will attend James Madison University and focus on business management.

The Cross family established this $1,500 scholarship to honor their father, a Suffolk Realtor who served on the School Board.

The three recipients of the annual Helen and Ned Ferguson Endowment Scholarship are Savannah Miller of Nansemond River High School, Kayla Bonelli of Lakeland High School, and Drew Phillips of King’s Fork High School. Miller will study theater and history at Dartmouth College. Bonelli plans to attend Virginia Tech to study animal and poultry science. Phillips will be attending Hampton University to study economics.

The Ferguson family established this $1,500 scholarship to honor their father, a local lawyer and community leader.

Ashley Duke of Nansemond River High School received the Suffolk Education Foundation’s Future Educators Scholarship. This $1,500 scholarship is designed to assist students interested in careers in education. Duke will attend the University of Mary Washington with plans to become an elementary teacher.

Jevedia Martin of Lakeland High School received the Wilburn Wilson — Future Educators Scholarship. Martin will study secondary education and sports medicine at the University of Mary Washington. The family established this scholarship to honor Wilburn Wilson, a long-time Suffolk Public Schools teacher.

Additionally, the foundation administers endowed scholarships for the families and friends of E. Talmadge Darden, Gertrude B. Pruden, the Hon. G. Blair Harry and Ellis E. Temple Sr.

Amber Abernathy of King’s Fork High School received the $1,000 E. Talmadge Darden Memorial Scholarship. She will be studying art education at James Madison University.

The family and friends of Darden established this scholarship in memory of this former King’s Fork Middle School principal to help students who had attended King’s Fork Middle School and who were planning to major in music, culinary arts or education.

Tallyah Larrymore of Lakeland High School received the $1,500 Gertrude B. Pruden Family Arts Scholarship. She will be attending Virginia Commonwealth University to study communication arts.

The Pruden family established this scholarship in memory of this local teacher who loved music, art and drama.

Kelly Lafferty of Nansemond River High School and Steven Ramlogan of King’s Fork High School received the G. Blair Harry Memorial Scholarship Awards. Lafferty will attend Allegheny College to study biology and play softball. Ramlogan is headed to Virginia Commonwealth University to chemistry and biology and compete in swimming.

The Harry family established this $1,500 scholarship to honor their father, who was a well-known Suffolk lawyer and judge who passed away in 2005. This scholarship is earmarked for college-bound student-athletes.

Haley Beale of Lakeland High School received the Ellis E. Temple Sr. Memorial Scholarship. She will attend Virginia Tech to prepare for a career in accounting.

The Temple family established the Ellis E. Temple Sr. Memorial Scholarship in 2009 to help a college-bound student-athlete and school leader at Lakeland High School. This $1,000 scholarship was first awarded in 2013. Ellis Temple was a well-known parent advocate and president of the city-wide Suffolk PTA Council.

Awards are made following an application process and review by a committee from the Suffolk Education Foundation’s board of directors. Selection criteria include academic achievement, community/school service, and future education and career goals.

Anyone interested in contributing to the scholarship funds of the Suffolk Education Foundation can send their tax-deductible donation to P.O. Box 394, Suffolk VA 23439-0394. Please note to which fund your contribution should be credited. General donations are also accepted to help the Foundation in its other programs, including classroom instructional grants, employee recognitions, staff development and tuition assistance for high school students taking dual-credit college courses.

For more information, contact president Jennifer Schmack at jschmack@suffolkva.us.