Baptist students awarded scholarship to attend Wake Forest

May 7, 2009

Twenty-nine North Carolina Baptist students have been awarded the William Louis Poteat Scholarship to attend Wake Forest University in the fall 2009 semester.  Each scholarship is valued at $12,500 and is renewable for four years for a total value of $50,000.

Poteat scholarships are awarded based on academic achievement, leadership and active involvement in a North Carolina Baptist church.  Recipients show promise of making a significant contribution to church and society.  This year’s recipients are:

• Lauren Allen of Raleigh is the daughter of Daniel and Karen Allen and is a student at North Raleigh Christian Academy.  She is a member of Trinity Baptist Church.
• Landon Baucom of Sanford is the son of Thomas Baucom and Debra Evans and is a student at Lee County Senior High School.  He is a member of Cool Springs Baptist Church.
• Chelsea Burgess of Columbus is the daughter of Mark and Regina Burgess and is a student at Polk County High School.  She is a member of Mill Spring First Baptist Church.
• Cody Byrd of Dunn is the son of Jackie and Sharon Byrd and is a student at Triton High School.  He is a member of First Baptist Church.
• Michael Chambers of Raleigh is the son of Ken and Lynne Chambers and is a student at Raleigh Charter High School.  He is a member of Hayes Barton Baptist Church.
• Marika Dillard of Lincolnton is the daughter of Richard and Monica Dillard and is a student at Lincolnton High School.  She is a member of El Shadda:  Independent Baptist Church.
• Rachel Dobson of Hamptonville is the daughter of Rayford and Christy Dobson and is a student at Starmount High School.  She is a member of Flat Rock Baptist Church.
• Joshua Elliott of Matthews is the son of David and Kermene Elliott and is a student at Porter Ridge High School.  He is a member of First Baptist Church.
• Emily English of Spruce Pine is the daughter of Alan and Bette English and is a student at Mitchell High School.  She is a member of Central Baptist Church.
• Amanda Gambill of Hays is the daughter of Billy and Rita Gambill and is a student at the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics.  She is a member of Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church.
• Alexandria Gwynn of Ruffin is the daughter of Robert and Patricia Gwynn and is a student at Bartlett Yancey High School.  She is a member of Red Hill Missionary Baptist Church.
• Susanna Hailey of Raleigh is the daughter of David and Susan Hailey and is a student at Sanderson High School.  She is a member of Hayes Barton Baptist Church.
• Amber Johnson of Clayton is the daughter of Rickie and Emmy Johnson and is a student at Clayton High School.  She is a member of As Pure Gold Baptist Church.
• Jasmine Johnson of Greenville is the daughter of Mark and Venus Johnson and is a student at Junius H. Rose High School.  She is a member of First Missionary Baptist Church.
• John Keen of Kenly is the son of John and Linda Keen and is a student at North Johnston High School.  He is a member of Kenly Free Will Baptist Church.
• Mary Koons of Kernersville is the daughter of Randy and Kelly Koons and is a student at East Forsyth High School.  She is a member of Triad Baptist Church.
• Madison Lackey of Winston-Salem is the daughter of Greg and Jill Lackey and is a student at Mount Tabor High School.  She is a member of Ardmore Baptist Church.
• Lacey McKinney of Spruce Pine is the daughter of Keith and Lisa McKinney and is a student at Mitchell High School.  She is a member of Pine Branch Baptist Church.
• Catherine Mewborn of Hickory is the daughter of Noland and Denise Mewborn and is a student at Hickory High School.  She is a member of New Hope Baptist Church.
• Jasmine Moore of Charlotte is the daughter of Tracy and Cynthia Moore and is a student at Harding University High School.  She is a member of Macedonia Baptist Church.
• Tiffany Newsome of Kelford is the daughter of Lola Newsome and the granddaughter of Annie W. Cherry.  She is a student at Bertie High School and a member of Mount Olive Baptist Church.
• Mariah Parsley of Spruce Pine is the daughter of Dale and Mavis Parsley and is a student at Mitchell High School.  She is a member of First Baptist Church.
• Lauren Peters of Winston-Salem is the daughter of Brent and Dawn Peters and is a student at Mount Tabor High School.  She is a member of First Baptist Church.
• Kaley Rivera of Belmont is the daughter of Kenneth and Kim Rivera and is a student at South Point Senior High School.  She is a member of South Point Baptist Church.
• Matthew Sechler of Linwood is the son of John and Tina Sechler and is a student at West Davidson High School.  He is a member of Smith Grove Baptist Church.
• Molly Stroup of Spruce Pine is the daughter of Luther and Renita Stroup and is a student at Mitchell High School.  She is a member of First Baptist Church.
• Madison Williams of Wilson is the daughter of Robert and Trina Williams and is a student at Fike High School.  She is a member of First Baptist Church.
• Jaymee Williamson of Elon is the daughter of James and Pauline Williamson and is a student at Western High School.  She is a member of McLeansville First Baptist Church.
• Catherine Wright of Rocky Mount is the daughter of Jody and Deborah Wright and is a student at Rocky Mount Senior High School.  She is a member of Lakeside Baptist Church.

The scholarship is named in honor of Wake Forest’s seventh president, a Wake Forest graduate whose administration ran from 1905 until 1927.   A devout Baptist, Poteat was a professor of biology and championed freedom of inquiry.

Press Contacts:

Audrey Fannin
(336) 758-5237


Kevin Cox
(336) 758-5237