Rector High School senior Sarah Hester is the first winner of the Moses Knight Scholarship awarded through the Rector High School Helping Hands Foundation.  Sarah (center) is congratulated by Board member Kay Huggins and Foundation President Sherland Hamilton.  Sarah is standing by a painting of the late Moses Knight, an African-American man who lived in Rector in the first half of the 20th century and, through his kindness and affection for children, won a special place in the hearts of all who knew him. Sarah’s four-year full tuition scholarship to Williams Baptist College is funded by an anonymous couple who were touched by Knight’s story and decided to reach out in kindness to keep his name alive.

Foundation president Sherland Hamilton (left) and board member Gloria Reed (right), chairperson of Foundation scholarship committee, congratulate RHS seniors Joabou Mitchell (second from left) and Bethany Sisneros, who each will receive $5,000 college scholarships through the Foundation for 2009-2010. Joabou is the recipient of the Helping Hands scholarship, and Bethany is the recipient of the Pauline Crockett scholarship, administered through the Foundation.  Joabou plans to study nursing at Black River Technical College, and Bethany plans to attend Arkansas State University at Paragould.

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Racheal Gipson, the 2008 recipient of the Pauline Crockett Scholarship has completed her first year of college.

The $5,000 renewable scholarship ($20,000 over four years) has helped make possible her studies in the field of finance with an emphasis on banking.  She hopes to someday become a bank president and operate her own bank.

Having received several scholarships from the community, Gipson says she is grateful for her local community’s involvement in helping her achieve her goals.

“Growing up in a small community, you form strong relationships. Everyone knows each other and cares for one another. There are always people there to help you if you need it,” said Gipson. “That’s one of the best things about a small community: the way people come together. I know the community has been a big part of my life. I appreciate everything everyone has done for me.”

The Rector High School Helping Hands Foundation is sincerely grateful for the donations that have been made to establish college scholarships for Rector students.    To date, five Rector students have been awarded scholarships by the Foundation, and those students continue to excel in their studies at the college level.  The photographs and comments originally appeared in the Clay County Democrat, and are reprinted with permission.

Dillan Hartsfield, a 2008 Rector High School graduate, was the Foundation’s first scholarship recipient.  The original $2,000 scholarship has been renewed for his second year.

Hartsfield is enrolled at Oklahoma State University, focusing his studies in the Division of Automotive/HEVI Technology.  Upon completion of the program, he will earn an Associate’s Degree in Applied Science while majoring in Diesel and Heavy Equipment Tech.

Hartsfield says he wants to return to Rector when he graduates. “I plan to come back and open up my own shop. That’s my home and it’s where I want to be. Our community has been so good to me and I want to do what I can to return the favor. I’d like to be in a position to help others in the community someday.”