Three Southeast Arkansas students recently received the first Rankin Chapel TJ and Ethel V. Kearney Scholarships.
One thousand dollar academic scholarships were presented to Mia R. Scott of Gould, who graduated from Dumas High School, and Jalyn P. Ward of Star City, who graduated from Star City High School. Terica D. Brown of Star City school received a $250 Essay Writing Award for outstanding composition.
The awards were announced recently by the Rankin Chapel TJ and Ethel V. Kearney Education Fund which was founded in December 2013 by the Kearney family of Gould and Rankin Chapel Missionary Baptist Church of Gould.
Students from Lincoln and Desha counties were invited to apply. Criteria was based on grade point average, community service and essay composition.
Thomas James Kearney died in December 2013. His wife, Ethel died in March 1982. They were cotton sharecroppers in Lincoln County for more than 75 years. The couple had 19 children, 17 of whom were raised in Lincoln County, and all of whom attended Rankin Chapel church. The couple was recognized by then-President Clinton, the Arkansas Black Hall of Fame, and Johnson Publishing Company for their outstanding contributions to their family and the community.
Details: The Rankin Chapel TJ and Ethel V. Kearney Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 512, Gould, AR, 71643, or writersinc@sbcglobal.net