The Greenwood-Leflore County Chamber of Commerce held a reception honoring area high school students Thursday.
Twelve students from local high schools were chosen to receive an award of $340 each.
“Supporting education in our community is very important to us,” said Beth Stevens, executive director of the chamber. “I know we have a lot of proud parents in the audience today.”
The annual award has been up to $500 in past years, but Kathy Whicker, chairman of the education committee, said they didn’t have as many sponsors this year. She said the chamber hopes to bring the award back to its original level, if not higher, in the future.
Whicker complimented the students on their performance on the essays and interviews required for the awards.
“If these kids are our future, our future is looking very bright,” she said.
Two students received an additional $100 each when Dr. V.K. Chawla offered up an extra incentive for whoever could best answer the question “What is the importance of higher education in your life?”
Chawla said he would have liked to offer more in addition to the extra money and students he had sponsored.
All schools in Leflore County are eligible for the contest. They compete in two categories — one for ninth and 10th grades and one for 11th and 12th grades.
Winners of the Student Achievement Awards and their sponsors:
Amanda Elzy High School
- Khadijah Anderson, Leflore County Board of Supervisors
- Charlecia Brownlee, Viking Range Corp.
Greenwood High School
- Brittany Boone, Dr. V.K. Chawla/Chawla Hotels
- Kerdashian Flowers-Lowe, Greenwood Leflore Hospital
Leflore County High School
- Nija Owens, Delta Correctional Facility
- Astreya Zachary, Mid-Delta Community Development Corp.
New Delta Preparatory School
- Brittany Boyd, Viking Range Corp.
North New Summit School
- Kortney Haymore, Dr. V.K. Chawla/Chawla Hotels
- Paris Reid, Cannon Motor Co.
Pillow Academy
- Kristin Stephens, Dr. V.K. Chawla/Chawla Hotels
- Rushil Randive, Delta Correctional Facility
nKelsey Stephens, Cannon Motor Co.
