Scholarship will help Rickards grad attend FAMU
Special to the Outlook
The legacy of Mercedes Hall Thomas was celebrated for another year with the Unity in the Community program. Highlight of the event was presentation of a scholarship to Rickard High School senior Madison Miller.
The recent event also was a fund-raiser for the scholarship named for Hall Thomas, who was a long-time member of Allen Temple C.M.E. Church.
The theme for the program was “Focusing on God Instead of Ourselves.” Rev. James Williams, pastor of Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, was the guest speaker. In addition to being a fund-raiser, the event was intended to bring the community together in fellowship and love.
The scholarship provides financial assistance to college-bound students from James S. Rickards High School. The scholarship is designated for students to attend either Florida A&M University, Florida State University or Tallahassee Community College.
Miller plans to use the $1,000 scholarship to help with the cost of attending FAMU in the fall, majoring in Health Science.
Participants in the program included City Commissioner Jack Porter, who led the responsive reading. Sheriff Walt McNeil, Assistant Chief of Police Tonja Bryant-Smith were also in attendance as well as City Commissioners Diane Williams-Cox and Curtis Richardson. Representatives from FAMU, FSU, TCC, local churches and schools, and Tallahassee Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc, also supported the event.
“We are very appreciative of our community support and generosity and are blessed because of it,” said Brenda Christie, daughter of the late Mercedes Hall Thomas. “Donations will be used to help fund the future of a student’s success.”
This year’s program raised more than $3,000.
