Five recent graduates from Scotland High School, a St. Andrews Presbyterian College student, and another bound for seminary school were the recipients of scholarships awarded by the Laurinburg Kiwanis Club during the group's annual Scholarship Night awards ceremony held recently at the Clinton Inn.

"We honored seven students, four who received the Laurinburg Kiwanis Club / Lindo Harvell Memorial Scholarship, and three who were given the Blackwell Family Scholarship," Kiwanis Scholarship Committee Chairman Norman Mathes said. "We have presented scholarships since the early 1970s, and are continuing a long tradition by presenting these monetary awards."

The selected students received a $1000 unrestricted scholarship from either the Kiwanis or from the Blackwell family.

"The Blackwell Family Scholarship was established by Jim Blackwell and his brothers Dennis and Terry," Mathes said. "Dennis Blackwell received one of the first Kiwanis scholarships, and from what I understand, it came at a very beneficial time. Due to this, the family decided to return to the favor by establishing an award of their own."

To be considered for a scholarship, Kiwanis Club members nominate potential recipients; Scotland High School also provides the names of students who have excelled in their studies.

"We choose the winners from these pool of names," Mathes said.

Scotland High School Visual and Performing Arts graduate Zach Rogers of Laurinburg was a recipient of the Laurinburg Kiwanis Club / Lindo Harvell Memorial Scholarship.

"I will be entering the School of Art and Design at East Carolina University this fall," Rogers said, "and this money will be very useful for purchasing art supplies at school. I would like to thank the Kiwanis Club for choosing me to receive this scholarship."

Mathes was pleased with the recipients of this year's awards.

"I am proud of these scholarship winners, and hope they succeed in their endeavors," he said. "On behalf of the Kiwanis Club, we wish them all the best."

In addition to Chairman Mathes, the scholarship committee includes Bill Phillips, Horace Myers, and Phillip McRae. Committee member Gene Sligh passed away this year as the selection process began.