The James Stephens III Scholarship Foundation Gala will be held this year at the Dillon County Theater on Saturday, May 21, 2011 at 8:00pm. Of the nine scholarship recipients, five seniors representing all three Dillon County high schools will be recognized. The event is a star-studded evening featuring entertainment and guests from around the country coming to Dillon to celebrate the academic achievement of “our kids.” The Board of Directors of the James Stephens III Scholarship Foundation is entrusted with and accountable for the selection of scholarship recipients which originate from the pool of applicants. The Board’s selection of recipients this year includes some of Dillon County’s finest students who have worked diligently and some of whom have persevered through great trials to reach this key level of academic achievement.
The Board of Director’s of the James Stephens III Scholarship Foundation wishes to acknowledge the 2011 James Stephens III Scholars, they are:
Samantha Jones – Dillon High School
Chessie Miller – Lake View High School
Jordan Tyler Miller – Lake View High School
Shartaysia Rogers – Latta High School
Maggie Thompson – Dillon Christian School
David Hart – Pageland, SC
LaCara Rogers – Charlotte, NC
Damion Singletary – Charlotte, NC
Cierra Strickland – Yeadon, PA
Each scholar will receive a laptop computer and a $1,000 academic scholarship. The scholars along with their families are invited to attend the annual scholarship gala where they will be celebrated for their hard work. “It will be a blast for the kids. They’ll get to meet the celebrities and enjoy a terrific night out with their family,” says James Stephens.
This year’s entertainment will feature Louis Price one of the original lead singers of The Temptations; Nathan Herron, a finalist from American Idol; Jazz Vocalist Margo LeDuc former backup singer for National Recording Artist Denise Williams; and Willie Brown & Woody a ventriloquist, actor, comedian from BET and Comedy Central. There will also be celebrity presenters such as Bill Chamberlain former UNC Basketball star who played in both the NBA and ABA; Actress Geri Reischl aka Jan Brady of the Brady Bunch; Fay Hauser from the soap opera Young and Restless, Dr. Luone Rouse, Lt. Col Karen Johnson, Mike Nelms former NFL player of Washington Redskins (Super Bowl) and our very own Judge James Lockemy. The event will be hosted by comedian Marc “Skippy” Price from the hit TV Series Family Ties starring Michael J. Fox.
“When it comes down to it, it is not about the show. It’s about a group of grown-ups coming together to share with children the importance of education,” Stephen said. There are just a few seats remaining for the upcoming scholarship gala.
Tickets for the event are a $50.00 donation.
Tickets can be purchased at the Dillon County Chamber of Commerce from Johnnie Luehrs, M&M’s Beauty Store’s Vernon McTeer or on-line at www.thejamesstephensfoundation.org.
All proceeds support programming and funding scholarships! (adv.)