With high school graduation coming up for William Byrd students on June 8, the awards season is now in full swing. The latest awards ceremony was held on April 30— the 27th annual Roanoke County Public Schools Education Foundation Scholarship and Donor Recognition Reception. The event was held at Hidden Valley High School

Scholarships were awarded to 90 students from the five Roanoke County high schools and the Burton Center for Arts and Technology (BCAT). Those scholarships amounted to $77,000 in funding. Twenty-five of the recipients were William Byrd High School students.

The non-profit Roanoke County Public Schools Education Foundation was created in 1991 “to help young people in the county schools to meet some of their educational and personal goals through the development and application of donated financial resources.”

The Foundation provides student scholarships to graduating seniors and classroom grants for innovative teaching ideas; it assists with student travel expenses to state and national competitions; provides resources for international education and assists students in remedial education and substance abuse programs.

Since 1991 the Foundation has provided over $1 million in scholarships to 1,700 graduating seniors, over $295,000 in classroom grants to almost 1,600 teachers, and over $300,000 for travel and educational programs, totaling over $1.5 million.

William Byrd students receiving scholarships from the Foundation this year include:

• Evamarie Pascoe, the Bayes E. Wilson Scholarship for $750. Pascoe plans to study mechanical engineering at Virginia Tech.
• Mara Renae Strum, the John David Wingate Memorial Scholarship for $500. She plans to study at Virginia Tech and pursue a career in the medical field.
• Haley Alana Cook, the Ruth Wade Scholarship for $500. She plans to major in math and statistics at William and Mary.
• Carla Elizabeth Graybill, the Thad James Memorial Scholarship for $500. She plans to major in English at Roanoke College.
• Kavya Iyer, the Pancham Patolia Scholarship for $5,000. She plans to attend Roanoke College and pursue a career as a pediatrician.
• Analee Lynn Huber, the Carilion Clinic Research Scholarship for $1,000. She plans to attend Virginia Tech and major in neuroscience.
• Madison Kimberly Horacek, the Carilion Clinic Nursing Scholarship for $500. She plans to pursue a career as a surgical nurse at Old Dominion University.
• Julia Elizabeth Burek the Carilion Clinic Pre-med Scholarship for $1,000. She plans to attend the University of Virginia to pursue a career as a medical doctor.
• Courtney Madison Palmer, the Tina Cook Woods Memorial Scholarship for $500. She plans to attend Virginia Tech.
• Sarah Grace Tyus, the Quincy Development Company Scholarship for $4,000. She plans to pursue a career in veterinary science at Virginia Tech.
• Keenan Scott McNamara, the Hildegarde and Cecil G. Smith Memorial Scholarship for $1250. He plans to major in pre-med at Virginia Tech.
• Sophie Patrice Griffin, the Robert A. Patterson Scholarship for $500. She plans to major in Education at Virginia Tech.
• Taylor Lillie Dennison, the Hildegarde & Cecil G. Smith Memorial Scholarship for $1250. She plans to major in political science at Christopher Newport.
• Tabitha Renee Gills, the Adam Wickham Memorial Scholarship for $500. She plans to major in creative writing at Hollins University.
• Ana Kathryn Boush, the Vinton McDonald’s Scholarship for $1000. She plans to attend Washington and Lee University to pursue a career in law.
• Larry Darnell Basham, the LaCole Board Memorial Scholarship for $500. He plans to major in business at Ferrum College.
• Abby Grace Spotswood, the Wendy Basham Memorial Scholarship for $500. She plans to major in biochemistry at Virginia Tech.
• Briona Alexis Hurt, the LaCole Board Memorial Scholarship for $500. She plans to major in physical therapy at Randolph University.
• Amaya Page Wilhelm, the General Foundation Scholarship for $750. She plans to major in business at Salem College in North Carolina.
• Bailey Erin Browning, the General Foundation Scholarship for $750. She plans to major in mass communications at VCU.
• Emily Elizabeth Brooks, the General Foundation Kroger Scholarship for $750. She plans to attend Virginia Tech and pursue a career as a lawyer.
• Ryan Todd Buxton, the General Foundation Lifetouch Scholarship for $750. He plans to study computer engineering at Duke University.
• Danielle Kasey Witcher, the General Foundation Rockydale Quarries Scholarship for $750. She plans to major in biomedical engineering at Virginia Tech.
• Elaina Renee Boinott, the General Foundation GCA Services Scholarship for $750. She plans to study business at Virginia Tech.
• Payton Makaula Taylor, the General Foundation McNeil Roofing Scholarship for $750. She plans to attend Virginia Tech to pursue a career as a doctor.

“We are proud to offer these scholarships to deserving young women and men,” said Foundation President Jason Sandzimier. “We had a very difficult time selecting the winners from many outstanding applications. This is a very competitive process. About one out of every six applicants received a scholarship.

“We would like to thank our sponsors and individual donors for their generous contributions,” added Sandzimier. “Without their support, we would not be able to provide these scholarships.”

The Education Foundation holds three fundraising events each year: the annual golf tournament and a student phone-a-thon in the fall, and the Backpack Run in the spring. Even with the generous support of the business community, nearly 70 percent of all donations come from individual contributions.

Support for these programs comes from corporate and private donations. To make a donation go to http://www.supportroanokecountyed.org or call Jean Wynn at 562-3900, Ext. 10113.