Three members of the First Waughtown Baptist Church Teens of Purpose (ToP) College/Career Preparatory Ministry were among 12 scholarship recipients in the 20th annual Martin Luther King Social Action Committee Oratorical Contest held on Feb. 28. The Teens won a total of $3,700 in the COVID-19-safe presentation set in Thomasville.
The contest theme – “The Ultimate Measure of a Man” – was taken from “Strength to Love,” a collection of Dr. King’s sermons and speeches published in 1963.
Kabari Walker, a junior at East Forsyth High School, received the $1,500 Ebony Alpha Ebony Scholarship. He is the son of Min. Carmenita Frazier. Kabari hopes to return to the oratorical contest next year to earn the first-place award, currently a $3,000 scholarship.
Aniyah Pope, a senior at Parkland High School, received the $1,000 James H. Bloomfield Scholarship and the $400 Delta Sigma Theta Video Innovation Award. Her parents are Mr. and Mrs. Robert Pope. Aniyah plans to attend either Howard or North Carolina Central University, where she will pursue a double major in pre-medicine and Spanish.
West Forsyth senior JaQuez Williams received the $800 Skeen Family Scholarship. He is the son of Mrs. Sheri Fryer. JaQuez plans to attend North Carolina Central University in the fall and he will pursue a degree in sports medicine.
Pastor Dennis W. Bishop is the senior pastor of First Waughtown Baptist Church, located at 838 Moravia Street. In observance of COVID-19 recommendations, Sunday services are being conducted virtually at www.facebook.com/FirstWaughtown and www.firstwaughtown.org.
Dr. George B. Jackson, president of United Cornerstone University in Thomasville, is founder and chairman of the MLK-SAC, Inc. Dr. Pamela Jackson, vice president for academic affairs at the university, is the MLK dean of students for the oratorical competition. Since the contest began, the organization has awarded $177,000 in scholarships to high school juniors and seniors.