Suffolk News-Herald

The Bethlehem Ruritan Club awarded $1,100 in scholarships among three 2003 graduates at two Suffolk high schools at its family picnic recently.

Fred Brinkley, a member of the club and chairman of the scholarship committee, presented checks to Kimberly Morris, Kristin Warren and Abbey Griffin.

&uot;The club has a long history of supporting local graduates with monetary assistance and they in turn have illustrated the community’s pride in the achievements of today’s youth,&uot; said Brinkley.

Morris was awarded the Ruritan National Foundation &uot;Double Your Dollar&uot; Scholarship in the amount of $600. She is a graduate of Nansemond Suffolk Academy and will attend Old Dominion University to major in pre-law in the fall.

Warren and Griffin are graduates of Lakeland High School and both were awarded scholarships of $250 each. Warren will attend Christopher Newport University in the fall and plans to play tennis for the school. Griffin will attend Paul D. Camp Community College in the fall and plans to major in nursing.

Eligible candidates to receive the scholarships are children and grandchildren of Bethlehem Ruritan Club members.

The Bethlehem Ruritan Club has 33 active members and was founded in May 1949. It also contributes to the Suffolk Rescue Squad, Suffolk Homeless Shelter, Suffolk Cheer Fund, underprivileged families and other charitable organizations.

Officers are Helen DeBlouis, president; Howard Barnes, vice president, Gary Ellis, secretary; and Tom Patrick, treasurer.