Akira B. Kyles
A calendar year back, Seventy-Initially High University senior Michelle Morris was making ready to go to faculty. Like many college-sure high schoolers, there was just one main problem on her intellect — money.
Morris applied for scholarships and grew to become the 1st recipient of the Rita J. Pope Memorial Scholarship previous year.
The scholarship was proven in memory of Rita Joyce Pope, who labored for 20 many years as a jailer at the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office and for a few many years as an administrative assistant for Seventy-First High College. Pope died on June 3, 2017.
The scholarship will pay out for Morris’ education for all four decades of school. According to Jeri Coleman, a son of Pope, the scholarship will not be awarded to a further participant till right after Morris graduates.
The total of the scholarship each and every yr will vary for the reason that of the market, Coleman stated.
Pope was a one mother of three, which is why one particular of the criteria for the scholarship is to be the youngster of a solitary mom.
“We grew up with a solitary mother. She lifted a few little ones, Jeri, Kerri and Millita,” explained Coleman. “So we have a great deal of regard for one mothers.”
According to Morris, her single mom has supported her all her everyday living.
“My father wasn’t in the photo at all and baby assistance was in no way paid out, so my mom has been truly the spine of my entire existence,” mentioned Morris. “She has carried out anything for me and every thing in her electrical power to make guaranteed I can get a good education.”
The other necessities for the scholarship are to maintain a 3. grade point ordinary, have financial need to have and be a Seventy-Very first Significant College student.
According to Coleman, he and his two siblings also attended Seventy-To start with High University and assumed of the scholarship need to hook up them all with each other.
Morris was the very first recipient of the scholarship in 2019.
“It was just seriously very good to obtain that for the reason that each and every tiny little bit counts as considerably as shelling out for greater training goes,” said Morris. “I was unquestionably pleased at the the very least.”
Morris is now a sophomore at Appalachian Condition University and is majoring in communications with a minor in international languages.
The scholarship is awarded as a result of the Cumberland Local community Basis, which a short while ago announced that it will be offering more than $1 million in grants and scholarships as it celebrates its 40th anniversary.
The money will be awarded in assistance grants totaling $400,000 to nonprofit companions and in college or university scholarships totaling additional than $700,000 to local learners.