WS Chronicle

First Waughtown Baptist Church (FWBC) honored 15 during its annual College Day service.  They were 2017 high school and college graduates and graduation candidates.

Two of the high school honorees received $1,500 scholarships established in memory of former Pastor E.L. Grant and church musician Mrs. Carrie Bitting.  They were chosen based on academic excellence, church and community service, and submission of letters of recommendation, college acceptance letters, and personal essays.

They are:

*Na’Kiah Dillard, daughter of Lakena Dillard, will graduate from Reynolds High School and attend UNC-Greensboro, where she will major in biochemistry.  She plans to become a dentist.

*Brandon Lindsay, the son of Mr. & Mrs. Gregory Lindsay, will graduate from West Forsyth High School.  He will attend Western Carolina University to major in biology before attending medical school to be a pediatrician.

Other scholars who were recognized are:

*Malcolm Beamon, son of Mr. & Mrs. Deboy Beamon, will graduate from Thomasville High School and attend North Carolina Central University to major in business administration.

*Brianna Carpenter, daughter of Mary McGill, will graduate from Parkland High School and enroll in the nursing program at Forsyth Technical Community College.

*Tmarko Chandler, son of Charles Grant and Lowana Robinson, will graduate from Parkland High School and attend Mars Hill College to major in sports medicine.

*Shamon Coleman is the son of Keisha Coleman. He plans to study computer programming after graduating from Parkland High School.

*Ka’jah Council is the daughter of Tamilia Bland-Brown and Kaiser Council. She completed  high school requirements in January and will graduate from Reynolds High School in June. She will enroll in the early childhood education bridge program at Wake Technical Community College.

*Devin Higgins is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Ellis Williams. After graduating from East Forsyth High School, Devin will attend UNC-Pembroke and major in computer science.

*Tyree Kirby, son of Nakiesha Robinson, will graduate from Parkland High School and attend Forsyth Technical Community College to major in accounting.

*Traci Miller graduated from Forsyth Technical Community College with an associate’s degree in applied science in business administration/public administration.

*Adrianne Mitchell, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. William Mitchell, will graduate from Lake Norman Charter High School. She will attend N.C. Agricultural & Technical State University and major in the food and science nutrition-pre-medical option.

*Zarea Pitts, daughter of Ms. Martice Washington and Mr. Michael Pitts, will graduate from Reynolds High School. She will attend Catawba College and major in elementary education.

*Jaina Reynolds is the daughter of Mr. & Mrs. George Timbers. She will graduate from Glenn High School and attend Livingstone College to major in accounting.

*John Rhinehardt, Jr. graduated from Grand Canyon University with a master’s degree in health care administration.

*Ire Stroud, son of Mrs. Uvette Stroud-Manning, will graduate from Walkertown High School and attend Monterey Peninsula College in Monterey, CA, and study computer science.

The congregation also recognized Senior Pastor Dennis W. Bishop, who will receive an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from United Cornerstone University in Thomasville, on June 3, in recognition of nearly five decades of evangelism and community service.

Deaconess Yolonda N. Childs of Galilee Missionary Baptist Church and a teacher at Ashley Academy, on Sunday, May 1, delivered the morning message, “You’ve Got This,” citing her favorite Scripture, Philippians 4:13-14. She reminded the scholars that they can do all things through Christ who gives them strength.

Recalling the challenges she faced as a young student, she admonished the honorees to not be deterred by naysayers and encouraged them to keep pressing to achieve their goals.

“Let your haters become your motivators,” she told them.  “There’s a blessing in your pressing.”