The John Ware Scholarship was started in 1999 by former Minister Cleveland Thornhill III, his wife Linda Thornhill, and Mrs. Mabel Ware in the name of her late husband, John, who had been Preachers Steward at St. James for 25 years until his death. Contributions up until that point had been raised from members and friends and one $500 scholarship was given out annually to a St. James high school graduate.
In August of 2001, Mrs. Terry Ryan approached St. James about her donating $5,000 annually to fund ten $500 scholarships annually. Recipients would be selected by the John Ware Scholarship Committee which would include Mrs. Mabel Ware and other members of the St. James Trustee Board. Priority would be given first to members of St. James but if St. James did not have ten graduates in any particular year, St. James could expand the offer to include other African American college students who are from Ithaca, NY.
To qualify for the John Ware Scholarship applicants must meet the following qualifications:
First priority is given to African American high school graduate members in good standing for 18 months before award of St. James AME Zion Church, Ithaca, NY . This means that either the students parent (s) or the the student, if his or her parents are not members, must have been members for 18 months before award.
Second priority is given to other African American high school graduates from Ithaca, NY.
Applicant must submit application, with (1) biographical essay and (2) college admissions letter, not later than June 20th of year of graduation from high school.
Awards will be announced at the Annual Graduation Ceremony held at St. James the Sunday before High School Graduation
2006 Recipients
Chevonne Avery - 2005
Chevonne is currently enrolled as a freshman at Long Island University -
C. W. Post Campus
where she is a finance major who plans to earn her masters. During
her first semester, she earned a 3.89 GPA. She is an active member of
the The Black Student Alliance and Newman Club (a religious group). In
addition, she works in the Financial Aid Office on the Work Study. Chevonne
graduated from Ithaca High School in 2005. In her senior year, she was
president of both the African-Latino Club and the Future Business
Leaders of America. She received the Student of the Quarter Award four times
between her freshman and senior years. Outside of school, she worked for two
years at Staples Office Supply and tutored youth at the Greater Ithaca
Activities Center (G.I.A.C.)
Jessica Marissa Hubbard - 2005
Jessica is currently enrolled as a freshman at St. Peters College, a private Jesuit Catholic Institution in New Jersey
where she will double major in elementary education and psychology.
She will be certified to teach grades kindergarten through eighth. Jessica
graduated form Ithaca High School in 2005. In high school, she worked with
the Tots 'n Teens program where she had to write papers, complete activities
and labs and observe the children in the Pre-K class. During her senior
year, the teachers in the classroom nominated Jessica for the Student of the
Quarter because of her "generous contributions and welcoming smile to the
kids and their families". |
Rev. Errol E. Hunt (rear), Mildred Lovett, Deborah Hall, Chevonne
Avery, Jessica M. Hubbard, Walter Hubbard.
CLICK on PHOTO TO ENLARGE
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A Step Beyond Scholarship
History
Mrs. Terry Ryan's mother, Marjorie M. Wehe, had a very close relationship with the late Mrs. Hazel Love and John Ware, and Mabel Ware of St. James. Together, they taught Vacation Bible School and helped found the Ithaca Chapter of the NAACP 63 years ago. Mrs. Wehe passed in the year 2000 and in recognition of Mrs. Ryans's love and devotion to her mother and the close relationship Mrs. Wehe had with the Wares and Mrs. Love and St. James, Mrs. Ryan offered to also fund $5,000 per year to be given in one scholarship to a previous John Ware Scholarship Recipient. This scholarship is awarded to a previous John Ware Scholar who has shown the most promise since he or she received that scholarship. In addition, extra consideration is given for the candidate who has made good despite obstacles he or she had to overcome that were not of their own making. This scholarship may be awarded to the same recipient as long as he or she is still enrolled in school (two year or four year college or graduate school) and considered the best candidate.
Selection of this recipient is by the same committee that selects the John Ware Scholarship recipient except Mrs. Ryan's eighty three year old father, Mr. Robert Wehe, a retired Cornell University Professor of Engineering who taught for over 40 years, also reviews the candidates.
Mr. Robert Wehe
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(L-R)Mr. Royal Lipsomb, Mrs. Mabel Ware, Mr. Robert Wehe
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Qualifications
To qualify for the A Step Beyond Scholarship, applicants must meet the following qualifications:
First priority is given to prior recipients of the John Ware Scholarship who have
(1) shown the most promise since he or she received that scholarship and
(2) made good despite obstacles they had to overcome that were not of their own making.
Prior recipients may receive the award provided they are considered the best candidate and are enrolled in a two year or four year college or graduate school program.
Applicants must submit applications, with (1) biographical essay and (2) college admissions letter, not later than May 15th of their current college year.
Awards will be announced at the Annual Graduation Ceremony held at St. James the Sunday before High School Graduation.
Past Recipient
| Lakilia Benton - 2002-2004
Lakilia recently graduated with Honors from Buffalo State University in Buffalo, NY with a major in Psychology. She has accepted a position with the Urban League in Buffalo as ______. She is also engage to Walid Ahmed and has planned an August 2004 wedding.
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