Rockdale Coalition for Children and Families to honor community volunteers

Five students invested in community service in Rockdale County are finalists for the Rockdale Coalition for Children and Families’ 2017 John K. Morgan Scholarship.

This is the seventh year the Rockdale Coalition has offered the $4,000 scholarship for a student who has demonstrated outstanding community service in Rockdale County and plans to continue that level of commitment while pursuing post-secondary education. The scholarship is named for John K. Morgan, former president and chief executive officer of Acuity Brands Lighting and community advocate.

Since the inception of the scholarship, more than $39,500 has been awarded to deserving students in Rockdale County.

Finalists for the 2017 John K. Morgan Scholarship include: Jazz Duncan (Rockdale Magnet School for Science and Technology); Galilea Garcia (Rockdale Magnet School for Science and Technology); Ivy Gonzalez (Heritage High School); Laurel Holmes (Rockdale Magnet School for Science and Technology); and Jada Johnson (Rockdale Magnet School for Science and Technology).

“We were once again overwhelmed by the talent and commitment these students have shown throughout their careers by giving so much of their time and talents to help others in need,” said Director of Rockdale Coalition for Children and Families Michael Hutcheson.

Highlights of community service demonstrated by the five finalists include:

• Jazz Duncan cites the Rockdale Autism Support Group’s iCan Shine Bike Camp, Jasmine House Foundation, Rockdale Juvenile Court/Teen Court and the Drug Free Community Coalition as her most meaningful areas of service.
• Galilea Garcia cites her involvement with St. Pius Catholic Church’s Lifeteen Program, serving in a leadership role at the Jovenes En Cristo (Teens in Christ) youth retreat, being a peer mentor at the Magnet School and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta VolunTEEN program volunteer as motivation for community service.
• Ivy Gonzalez’s cites volunteerism with organizations such as Kate Caruso Light the Way’s Camp Kate, Walking Home Together, a non-profit animal shelter, and Do It for Jared Foundation, an organization in memory of a friend who lost his battle with sickle cell anemia.
• Laurel Holmes is a lifelong Girl Scout, is passionate about serving the special needs community and, seeing a need, created her own service organization, Women on the Way to Success (WOWS), for young women at her school.
• Jada Johnson cites her involvement in Beta Club, serving the Emmanuel Community Church food pantry and volunteering as an AWANA youth leader.

The scholarship winner will be announced at the Rockdale Coalition for Children and Families Annual Awards Reception on March 24, 6 p.m., at the Rockdale Career Academy.

The 2017 recipient of the F. William Hughey Community Service Award will be presented to Levette Thompson. The award is presented annually to a person who has demonstrated outstanding community service in Rockdale County. Thompson is a long-time Rockdale County resident. Her volunteer efforts include organizing and supervising neighborhood cleanup projects for the Fieldstone View/Country Walk neighborhoods, mentoring youth and developing a plan to help her neighborhood deal with drug trafficking. Thompson was instrumental in assisting Rockdale County secure a $700,000 federal grant to revitalize her community. A $500 cash donation will be given to the local community service organization of Thompson’s choice.

Tickets for the Rockdale Coalition for Children and Families Annual Awards Receptions are available for $20 per person and are available at http://2017coalitionawards.bpt.me. The event includes food catered by students in the Rockdale Career Academy culinary arts program and recognition of the scholarship finalists.