The lawn of Hickory Hill was filled with happy families last Saturday as the Watson-Brown Foundation awarded scholarships to rising college freshmen from 16 area counties of Georgia and South Carolina.
"This scholarship is going to benefit me very much," said Thomson High School graduate Anthoney Brown. "The recession has hit my family very hard, and this money will really be a big help. I wish to thank the Watson-Brown Foundation. It's great what they're doing to help common people like me."
Mr. Brown is going to Georgia Southern University in Statesboro to study computer engineering for two years. He then plans to finish his degree at Georgia Tech. Mr. Brown was one of 232 recipients of the scholarship from Watson-Brown this year, according to Sarah Katherine McNeil, the WBF director of scholarships and alumni relations. Ms. McNeil said by the end of the year, the Foundation will have over 800 scholars studying at 125 colleges and universities.
"Today, the Watson-Brown Foundation provides more scholarship aide than any other private organization in Georgia," President Tad Brown said as he addressed the crowd. "We are proud of our heritage and we take it seriously. And we are proud of you and we take you seriously."
The Foundation is a nonprofit corporation that was established in 1970 to provide college opportunities for underprivileged boys and girls. Named for Thomas E. Watson and J.J. Brown, the foundation awards $2.5 million annually in merit and need-based scholarships. The individual scholarships are $3,000 to $5,000 each, and are renewable each year based on continued academic success, according to Ms. McNeil.
Approximately 400 attended Saturday's event, which was to recognize the new recipients and honor the current recipients and alumni. The auditorium consisted of chairs set up under a large canopy on the front lawn of Hickory Hill, which is the historic home of the late Sen. Watson. A separate canopy covered the refreshments of fresh melons and berries, fresh salsa and crackers, fried chicken wings, cheese straws and bacon, all catered by Poppy Seeds of Augusta. The lawn also was dotted with bright, checker-clothed cocktail tables centered with floral bouquets.
Watson-Brown Curator Michelle Zupan said crowds on the Hickory Hill stately lawn is nothing new. She said Mr. Watson holds the record for the largest gatherings in McDuffie County, when 8,000 gathered to hear his speech and 10,000 came for his funeral in 1922.
"He'd be thrilled," she said. "He'd like it with all the young people, the brilliant minds and the Southern food. It doesn't get any better than this."
The keynote speaker for the event was Ferrol Sams, a doctor from Fayetteville, Ga. who also is an award-winning and national best-selling author. The first of Dr. Sams' eight books was published when he was 60-years-old. He also has been an instructor at Emory University and Emory Medical School.
"I'm amazed at this foundation," Dr. Sams said as he began his speech. "I knew it was here, but I didn't realize the scope of it. Not only the large number of scholarship recipients, but the scope of the schools to which they are going, from the University of Georgia all the way down to Princeton and Harvard. I'm a Southerner born and raised, and I'm proud of it."
In more of a stand-up comic style rather than scholarly-address style, the Doctor told humorous anecdotes of his past as he challenged the young people to "keep your Southern character in tact."
Before recognizing the new scholars, Ms. NcNeil asked all current scholars and alumni in the audience to stand.
"New students, find these people," she said. "They know which professors to take, the best resources and what not to eat in the cafeteria."
McDuffie County students who received scholarships:
Alabama State University
Amber N. Johnson
Ashley N. Mims
Augusta State University
Carmen D. Anderson
Sarah R. Bass
Lindsey T. Burch
Jeffrey R. Cook
Aaron M. Dixon
Marie L. Hedgecock
Kimberly R. Lansdell
Cheronda D. Neal
Megan R. Newman
Jessica A. Newsome
Zachary T. Washington
Brewton Parker College
Gloria F. Holloway
Christendom College
Barbara M. Molitor
Fort Valley State University
Demetris J. Freeman
Gainesville College
Lindsey M. Murphey
Georgia College and State University
Erica R. Bettross
Jasmine A. Garnett
Steve E. Holbert
Ethan C. Holliman
William A. McCorkle
Elizabeth J. Thigpen
Courtney Timmerman
Georgia Institute of Technology
Callie G. Gilmer
Kathy L. Robinson
Kelly Robinson
Georgia Southern University
Amanda S. Acosta
William J. Anderson
Anthoney X. Brown
Benjamin D. Dixon
Janette L. Gordy
Andrew C. Harding
Jasmine N. Lott
Kathryn H. May
R. Daniel Palmer
Benjamin L. Raburn
Benjamin A. Rushing
Eric B. Toulson
Christine G. Usry
Seth D. Williford
Georgia State University
Mary A. Harden
Howard University
Tykia C. Key
Northwestern University
Jerrica J. Bell
Oxford College of Emory University
Helen S. Hill
Southern Polytechnic State University
Austin J. Hixenbaugh
University of Dallas
Thomas E. Molitor
University of Georgia
Brittany E. Barnhill
Joseph A. Batrous
Jordan M. Lewis
Melissa D. Newsome
Crystal D. Reese
Amber N. Usry
University of Tampa
Tse'Lani S. Drew
University of West Georgia
Andrea N. Culpepper
Valdosta State University
John W. Atnip
Alana M. Long
Kaitlin N. McNeal
Jacob S. Powers
Warren County students who received scholarships:
Fort Valley State University
Crystal R. Gillom
Amber N. Ivey
Georgia Southern University
Bianca P. Ficklin
John M. Spivey
Medical College of Georgia
Allison S. Newsome
Southern Polytechnic State University
Albert R. Hudson
University of Georgia
La'Porisha Franklin
Davis F. Griffin
Sammantha M. Jerrison
Ashley B. Moyer
Heather L. Neal
Cassie P. Pickrell
