Just before the school year ended last month, six A.C. Reynolds High School (ACRHS) seniors received a life-changing surprise when Reynolds alumni Bruce Johnson and Dr. Leigh Ann Hamon awarded each of them a $5,000 scholarship during a special ceremony.

The scholarships, totaling $30,000, recognize students who have made meaningful contributions to their school and community but may not have otherwise received significant scholarship recognition. School counselors selected the recipients based on their character, involvement, and potential. Johnson and Hamon, now in their third year of supporting local students through scholarships, said they hope to ease the financial burden of higher education while giving back to the school community that helped shape their own lives.

“Seeing the rising cost of education and the debt many students face after college inspired us to help,” Mr. Johnson said. “This scholarship won't erase those costs, but we hope it's a meaningful start. Reynolds gave so much to us, and this is one way we can give back to the students following behind us.”

Many of the seniors had already finished exams, so school staff told their families about the scholarships and lured the recipients to the surprise ceremony by asking them to complete “transcript paperwork.”

“I was very surprised,” said 2026 Reynolds graduate Venus DeRonne. “It's a huge relief because I wanted to have something to show for all the work I've put in over the last four years. I'm just so happy.”

ACRHS school counselor Emily Walters said these scholarships will make a “tremendous” difference for the recipients.

“One of the harder parts of this job is seeing really great students who may not always be recognized, but who are vibrant members of our school community,” she said. “This scholarship gave us an amazing opportunity to recognize students who consistently show character, commitment, and kindness.”

The recipients are:
-Venus DeRonne
-Kayla Doughty
-Saylor Johnston
-Joliene Homan
-Addison Morris
-Josephine Reeves