Ten area high school students were recognized recently with a book award from the South of the James Alumni Chapter of The College of William and Mary Alumni Association. The purpose of the award is to reinforce the goals of The College of William and Mary, attract the most highly qualified students, and acquaint recipients with the college.

Students who are eligible to receive the annual book award are high school juniors who are residents or attend schools in the counties of Isle of Wight, Southampton, Surry and Sussex and the cities of Franklin and Suffolk. The award is always a book written or edited by a William and Mary alumnus or faculty member. This year’s selection was the updated version of “Hark Upon the Gale: An Illustrated History of the College of William and Mary in Virginia” (first published in 1985), written by Wilford Kale, a William and Mary alumnus, and featuring a foreword by Margaret Thatcher.

Student winners of the book award are selected by each local school, using the criteria of class rank and cumulative grade-point average qualifications for the most highly selective college or university; outstanding curricular achievement and volunteer service; and demonstrated leadership in the community of the school.

This year’s recipients include Alexis Brueggeman (King’s Fork High School); Sierra Leickert (Lakeland High School); Sydney Glover (Nansemond River High School); Katy Miller (Nansemond-Suffolk Academy); Shelbie Dashiell (Isle of Wight Academy); Adam Formella (Smithfield High School); Racquel Doherty (Windsor High School); Clifton Scarboro (Franklin High School); Barclay Gatten (Southampton Academy); and Tabbitha Bruck (Southampton High School).

The officers and other board members for the South of the James Chapter include Mark Hall, president (Isle of Wight); Dr. Jennifer Howard, vice president for programs/events (Isle of Wight); Dr. Lisa Fore-Arcand, vice president for membership (Isle of Wight); Dr. Alan Harris, secretary (Suffolk); Melinda Poe, treasurer (Isle of Wight); and Nora Butler (Suffolk); Anne Reese Carson (Franklin); John Hoy (Suffolk); Lauren Hoy (Suffolk); Brenda Joyner (Isle of Wight); Dr. Patsy Joyner (Southampton); and Jeremy Utt (Suffolk).