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The Suffolk Education Foundation recently announced the recipients of its 2021 college scholarships. This year, the Foundation awarded $22,000 to help 15 local high school graduates continue their education. Since 1993, the Foundation has awarded more than $425,000 in scholarships in Suffolk’s public high schools.

Milton R. Liverman Memorial Scholarship — Mrs. Shirley Liverman established this $1,500 scholarship in 2020 to honor her husband. Dr. Liverman served Suffolk Public Schools for 36 years, including 10 years as its superintendent. Dr. Liverman was committed to helping young people make a difference in their community and achieve their potential. This year’s city-wide recipient is Brooke Barnes from King’s Fork High School, who will be attending the University of Virginia to prepare for a career in medical research.

E. Talmadge Darden Memorial Scholarship — The family and friends of Darden established this $1,500 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. This year’s recipient is Audrey Woods from Lakeland High School. She will be starting at Paul D. Camp Community College, with plans for a career in speech therapy working with children.

Doug Dohey Memorial Scholarship — The Dohey family established a $1,500 scholarship to honor the former assistant superintendent’s dedication to Suffolk Public Schools, and his love of wrestling. He coached wrestling and football at Nansemond River High School. This year’s recipient is Jesse Alspaugh, a leader on the NRHS Warrior football team. He will be studying engineering at Purdue University with a goal of building a better, greener world.

Cross Family Scholarship — The Cross family established this $1,500 scholarship to honor their parents, Harry Lee and Jean Ritchie. Mr. Cross was chairman of the Suffolk School Board and was a successful realtor; Jean Cross taught in the Suffolk Public School system.

The King’s Fork High School recipient is Emma Joyner, who will be attending Christopher Newport University to study neuroscience for a career in medicine.

The Lakeland High School recipient is Rose Ayala, who will be attending Virginia Commonwealth University to study biomedical engineering to prepare for a medical career.

The Nansemond River High School recipient is Kennedy Palmeira, who will be attending Auburn University to study neuroscience to prepare for a career as a medical researcher.

Helen and Ned Ferguson Endowment Scholarship — The Ferguson family established this $1,500 scholarship to honor their parents, Ned and Helen. Both were extremely active in the Suffolk community, and Mr. Ferguson was a local attorney.

The King’s Fork High School recipient is Jordan Hudson, who will be attending North Carolina A&T State University to study business administration & management.

The Lakeland High School recipient is Joshua Aldridge, who will be attending the University of North Carolina to study biology in preparation for a career in oral surgery.

The Nansemond River High School recipient is Lorraine Silcott, who will be attending Virginia Commonwealth University to prepare for a nursing career.

Future Educator Scholarship — The Suffolk Education Foundation’s future educator scholarship awards $1,500 to graduating seniors who plan a career as an educator.

The King’s Fork School recipient is Brielle Little, who will be attending Radford University to prepare for a career in education.

The Nansemond River High School recipient is Madison Kenyon, who will be attending Longwood University to study communicative disorders and become a speech pathologist.

Gertrude B. Pruden Family Arts Scholarship — The Pruden family established this $1,500 scholarship in memory of this local teacher who loved music, art and drama. This year’s recipient is Darbi Gregory from Lakeland High School. She will be attending Regent University to study computer animation.

Ellis E. Temple Sr. Memorial Scholarship — The Temple family established this 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 president of the city-wide Suffolk PTA Council. This year’s recipient is Christina Green, who is active at Lakeland in softball and volleyball. She will be attending Old Dominion University to study criminal justice with eyes on the FBI.

2005 Blair Harry Memorial Scholarship — 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, and both recipients this year are from Nansemond River High School.

Er’ron Burton, who is active in softball, plans to keep playing at Longwood University, where she will be studying computer science.

Christopher Blount will continue his track and field at Howard University, where he will be studying communications.

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

If you want to learn more about establishing a memorial scholarship with an endowment, please email or call administrator, Bethanne Bradshaw, at the Suffolk Education Foundation at suffolkef.contact@gmail.com or 757-237-3249.

If you are interested in making a difference in the lives of Suffolk Public School students, you can make a contribution to the Suffolk Education Foundation online at suffolkeducationfoundation.org or by mailing your tax-deductible donation to P.O. Box 394, Suffolk VA 23439-0394. Donations are accepted in honor or memory of individuals or in direct support of other initiatives like the Teacher Supply Store, classroom grants, and of course, scholarships.

The Suffolk Education Foundation was founded in 1993 and received its IRS 501(c)(3) status in the same year. Since that time, the board has worked hard to develop a variety of fundraisers to raise additional donations and to ensure that students and staff of Suffolk Public Schools receive scholarships and classroom grants on an annual basis. The Suffolk Education Foundation has returned nearly $1 million dollars to Suffolk Public Schools.

The mission of the Suffolk Education Foundation is to support Suffolk Public Schools by connecting the community’s talents and resources to expand educational opportunities for students and staff. By supporting Suffolk Public Schools, the Foundation is ensuring that the Suffolk community will have talented leaders and citizens long into the future.

For more information, contact President Patrick Belcher at suffolkef.contact@gmail.com or visit the Foundation’s website at www.suffolkeducationfoundation.org.