Past recipient. Marquetta Brown, center, with her grandfather, Harry Whitley, and TBA President Pete A. Kotarides.
Tidewater Builders Association scholarship recipients are a “special breed” of high school graduates. Those are the words of past recipient Marquetta Brown, who personally exemplifies what that means.
A graduate of Norfolk’s Booker T. Washington High School, she received her TBA scholarship in 2004. She graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University last year and came back to TBA to speak to the 2009 recipients at the Scholarship Awards ceremony.
Also in attendance was her 73-year-old grandfather, who has been her source of support through the years. In her remarks, she addressed what it’s like to overcome personal tragedy and stay focused on success. With her many talents, she had her choice of careers, but has chosen to work with Strong Foundation Youth Initiative, where she provides intensive home counseling for at-risk youths.
Click here for her full remarks .
It’s these life stories that tug at the heartstrings of the scholarship selection committee and keep many of them involved in the lives of the recipients.
Sixteen high school graduates received 2009 TBA scholarship awards amounting to $85,000.
Six were winners in the drafting and design contest and the other 10 received academic scholarship awards of $7,500 each. Criteria for selection were academic achievement, community service and financial need. Read the complete press release.
