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
2010 Recipients
Sarena Lynch - 2010
Sarena Vaughan Lynch graduated from Ithaca High School in June 2010 and has been admitted to the University of Virginia in
Charlottesville, Virginia where she will enroll in August. She took part in
honors classes throughout her time at Ithaca High School and challenged
herself with Advance Placement courses such as US History, Chemistry, Biology,
English Language, Human Geography, and Calculus.
While in high school, she participated in many extra curricular
activities such as dancing and teaching at Armstrong School of Dance,
working at The Cactus Heads Waffle Stand in the Farmers Market and interning
at the United Way. She was a leader in Link Crew, a program designed to ease
the transition from middle school to high school for freshman, participated
in the United Way Youth and Philanthropy program, and was a part of the
Principal's Advisory Board. In her junior summer, she entered the National
Student Leadership Conference at the University of Maryland that specialized
in medicine where she won the Most Valuable Leader award.
She recently won awards from the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority for her
participation in community service and an award for her participation in the
Youth and Philanthropy program. She plans on pursuing a major in biology at UVA
with a possible minor in psychology, while continuing her passion for dance
and community service.
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Mrs. Patricia Johnson-Lynch, Mrs. Veronica Raikes, Sarena Lynch, and
Rev. Alex Brower.
Click 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.
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