Golden Apple Awards, scholarships distributed to teachers, students

Three Chesterfield County educators recently received the prestigious Golden Apple Award, and five area students were honored with scholarships from the Kappa Foundation of Petersburg Inc.

The awards were made June 2 at the Kappa Foundation’s annual scholarship and achievement awards breakfast.

The Golden Apple Award was presented to Melloney Johnson, a professional school counselor at Matoaca High School, Regina B. Tyler, director of the TRiO program at Virginia State University, and Iva G. Walton, a teacher at Matoaca High School.

The prestigious Golden Apple Award recognizes excellence in leadership, counseling and teaching within an educational environment. The award was presented to the women for their work within their schools and community. They have been recognized for reaching above and beyond the scope of their professional duties to ensure the students they instruct maximize their learning opportunities.

Five area high school students and one area college student were awarded scholarships at the breakfast. Kevin Bernard Brown Jr., a senior at Thomas Dale High School, was awarded the Frasier Brickhouse Scholastic Achievement Award, and Sarai Zhane Gholson, a senior at Matoaca High School, was awarded the Dr. Freddie W. Nicholas Scholastic Achievement Award.

Additionally, Evan VanKeith Tyler, a senior at Appomattox Regional Governor’s School, was awarded the Dr. James E. Hunter Scholastic Achievement Award, and Christopher Jones, a senior at Petersburg High School, was awarded the Dr. Porcher L. Taylor Jr. Scholastic Achievement Award and the Abraham D. Maven Kappa League Scholastic Achievement Award.
Tariq Rahiem Smithers, a senior at Nottoway High School, was awarded the Sherman Vaughn Scholastic Achievement Award, and Michael Snipes Jr., a rising senior at Virginia State University, was awarded the William Thomas Carter/Petersburg chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. Scholastic Achievement Award.