The Suffolk Education Foundation recently announced the recipients of its 2013 college scholarships. This year, the foundation awarded $13,000 to help 13 local high school graduates continue their education. Since 1993, the foundation has committed more than $250,000 in college scholarships for local high school students.

Each of the 13 students will receive a $1,000 scholarship.

The three recipients of the annual Jean and Harry L. Cross Jr. Endowment Scholarship are Heather Davis of Nansemond River High School, Jonathan DeFreeuw of Lakeland High School and Laura Smith of King’s Fork High School. Davis plans to study biology at the College of William and Mary. DeFreeuw will study engineering at Virginia Tech. Smith will focus on global development studies at the University of Virginia.

The Cross family established this scholarship to honor their father, a Suffolk real estate agent who served on the School Board.

The three recipients of the annual Helen and Ned Ferguson Endowment Scholarship are Anna Fischer of Nansemond River High School, Matthew Bradshaw of Lakeland High School, and Octavia Gould of King’s Fork High School. Fischer plans to attend Wake Forest University to study political science and sociology. Bradshaw will study chemical engineering at the University of Virginia. Gould will be attending Howard University to study international business and French.

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

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

Rachel Childs of Nansemond River High School received the $1,000 Gertrude B. Pruden Family Arts Scholarship. She will be attending Virginia Commonwealth University to study forensic science and music. The Pruden family established this scholarship in memory of this local teacher who loved music, art and drama.

Ashley Heuberger of Lakeland High School and Sara Gallagher of Nansemond River High School received the G. Blair Harry Memorial Scholarship Awards. Heuberger will attend Lynchburg College to study biology and to play field hockey. Gallagher is headed to Catholic University in Washington, D.C., to study political science. The Harry family established this scholarship to honor their father, who was a well-known Suffolk lawyer and judge who passed away in 2005.

Sierra Leickert of Lakeland High School received the first Ellis E. Temple Sr. Memorial Scholarship. She will attend the University of Virginia to study psychology. The Temple family established Ellis E. Temple Sr. Memorial Scholarship in 2009 to help a college-bound student athlete and school leader at Lakeland High School. Ellis Temple was a well-known parent advocate and president of the city-wide Suffolk PTA Council.

Christyna Menarini of Nansemond River High School, Alexis Brueggeman of King’s Fork High School and Parker Baines of Lakeland High School received the Suffolk Education Foundation’s first annual Future Educators Scholarships. These scholarships are designed to assist students interested in careers in education. Mencarini and Baines will both attend Longwood University with plans to teach elementary school. Brueggeman will attend Old Dominion University with plans to teach elementary school.

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 and 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, Teacher of the Year and Star Award employee recognitions, staff development, and tuition assistance for high school students taking dual-credit college courses.

For more information, contact president David Mitnick at dmitnick@charter.net or board member Bethanne Bradshaw at 925-6752 or betbradshaw@spsk12.net.