I icia Sykes
HUNTSVILLE â The Walker and Trinity Counties Branch of the NAACP has selected its 2021 scholarship recipients.
The Jones-Baker Memorial Scholarship and Recognition Banquet was not held in 2020 nor 2021 due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, but scholarships were still awarded each year.
Since the establishment of the Jones-Baker Memorial Scholarship Program, well over $150,000 has been awarded to community youths to advance their education, either in college or through their chosen technical training program. All of these funds have been contributed by community businesses and individuals.
In previous years, as many as 20 $500 scholarships were awarded in one year. For 2021, seven high school graduates will receive $500 scholarships, including: Kayla Cooper, Jalyn Elliot, Benjamin Hall, Sasha Johnson, Nia Merchant, Marvin Ochoa and Iâicia Sykes.
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SubmittedMarvin Ochoa, the valedictorian for the Huntsville High School Class of 2021, plans to attend Texas A&M University in the fall.Â
SubmittedMarvin Ochoa will address the Huntsville High School Class of 2021 today as the class valedictorian.Â
After countless hours spent in the Huntsville High School library and overcoming the challenges of virtual learning in a pandemic, Marvin Ochoa will address his peers today for one last time as the class of 2021 valedictorian.Â
Ochoa found out in his junior year that he was in the running for valedictorian and to his surprise, was confirmed nearly three weeks ago.
âI was expecting like fifth or fourth, but not first or second, so when Ms. (Marsha) Stringer let me know that I was (valedictorian) I was surprised, I would not think that I would come out on top,â Ochoa said.