RADFORD – The Radford High School Foundation, Inc. recently awarded $40,250 through 18 separate scholarships to Radford High students.
The scholarships were awarded to graduating students during the annual RHS Academic Awards program and during the RHS Athletic Awards event.
Since the foundation was formed in 1986, more than $350,000 in scholarships has been awarded for graduating students. The foundation is a nonprofit, tax exempt organization that was formed by friends and alumni of RHS “for the sole purpose of supporting Radford’s already successful school system,” according to the foundation.
“The foundation awards scholarships to college bound seniors in recognition of their academic achievement, community service, leadership, career goals, and/or athletic participation,” reads a statement by the organization. “All 18 scholarships awarded this year are in memory of or in recognition of outstanding folks who were loved and who contributed greatly to our schools and community.”
In addition to the many scholarships given out by the foundation for years, three new endowed scholarships were awarded at this year’s Academic Award ceremony.
The Mary Ellen Moore and James M. Moore Memorial Scholarship was established in recognition of Mary Ellen Moore’s leadership and community service as a teacher in the Radford City School System from 1964 until her retirement in 1984. Moore began her career teaching in Indiana and, while there, married her husband, James “Jim” Moore, in 1947. They moved to Blacksburg in 1964, and Mary Ellen chose the field of Home Economics and continued her teaching career at Radford High School. Jim became an educator at Virginia Tech where he was an associate professor of agriculture until his retirement in 1988.
“[The Moores] truly believed in the profound impact education could have on their respective students, and this scholarship was created to memorialize their dedication to and love of academia,” according to the foundation. The Moores were married for 68 years until Jim’s death in 2015. Mary Ellen Moore died in 2020, and the foundation was bequeathed a sizable sum to use for scholarships. The first winners of the Moore Memorial Scholarships awarded this spring in the amount of $3500 each were graduating seniors Mandolyn Mullins, and Sam Kennedy. Both Mullins and Kennedy plan to attend New River Community College.
The Robert P. Asbury and Carol C. Asbury Public Service Scholarship was also awarded for the first time this spring.
“The scholarship’s purpose is to recognize students who desire to enter public or civil service or the students are children of parents who have devoted their careers to the public sector,” according to the foundation. “Bob and Carol Asbury have been long-time members of the Radford community and have lived the large part of their adult lives in Radford supporting the City of Radford and Radford City Schools and participating in civic and community activities.” According to the foundation Bob [Asbury] served as Radford’s city manager from 1970 through 2002. Carol [Asbury] taught in the Radford City Schools from 1979 thru 2011. They continue to live in Radford after their respective retirements from public service.”
The endowment was established by their son and daughter-in-law, John C. Asbury and Wendy Asbury. The recipient of the 2021 Asbury Public Service Scholarship in the amount of $2,000 is Kara Armentrout, who plans to attend Virginia Tech.
The estate of Julian “Doug” Croy established the Julian D. Croy II Memorial Scholarship in memory of Doug’s son, “Jay” Croy who passed away in 2001 from cancer.
“Jay was a happy young man who enjoyed life, family, fishing and cars,” according to the foundation. “Jay played football while at Radford High School and enjoyed making his friends laugh. His working career was focused on instrumentation. The endowed scholarship purposes to award an annual scholarship to a deserving college-bound student at Radford High School who desires to pursue a vocational/industrial/technical college education.”
The first winner of the Julian D. Croy II Memorial Scholarship is RHS graduating senior John Hayes, who plans to attend Virginia Tech.
Other Radford High School Foundation Academic Awards for 2021 and their winners were the Richard P. “Dick” Price Memorial Scholarship, Landon Roop
the Nell M. Price Memorial Scholarship, Emma Calfee
the Mary S. Shelburne and Harvey D. Shelburne Memorial Scholarship, Lauryn Shumate
the Roy and Mayme Epperly Scholarship, a four-year scholarship, Emma McMurray
the Brian T. Hannifan Memorial Scholarship, Jackson McManus
the Lois Carr Education Scholarship, Harper Minarik
the Sally Hendrix Memorial Scholarship, Beatrice Lavery
the Sevareid Family Memorial Scholarship, Emma McMurray
the Benny C Ridpath Memorial Scholarship, Jake Ritchey
the Nell Collins Hatcher Memorial Scholarship, Mason Sproule
the Charles E. Fretwell Endowed Scholarship, Jackson McManus and Ryan Gordon
and the Elizabeth and Melburn Williams Scholarship, Emma Duncan.
2021 Radford High School Foundation Senior Sports Awards 20 winners were the Dana Palmer Memorial Scholarship, Emma Duncan
The 4909 Basketball Honorarium Scholarship (a two-year scholarship),Alex Kanipe
And the Allen “Big Al” Hall Memorial Scholarship, Zane Rupe
Currently serving as the Foundation Executive Committee are Chairman Abie Williams, Vice Chairman Chip Craig, Secretary Ruth Clark, and Treasurer Mandy Martin. Other board members are Dr. John Semones, former School Superintendent Dr. Michael Wright, Palma Clark, Bev Davis, Albert Mah, Jeff Caldwell, Nikki Cumberland, and Eli Mullins.
School administration representatives on the board are school superintendent, Rob Graham and RHS Principal Jeff Smith. Foundation advisory board members are Harrison Williams and Whitney King Stokes.
