Albany continues proud scholarship tradition
By Melinda L. Lucas
Members of the Albany High School Class of 2025 were awarded dozens of scholarships during commencement exercises held last Friday, May 23.
There were more than 175 separate awards for the class of 45 seniors, with some scholarships split among more than one recipient, amounting to $197,350 given for the first year of college or trade school and almost $385,000 if the recipients qualify for the scholarships and stay in school over a four-year period.
The awards were given by about 50 local churches, clubs, organizations, foundations, and individuals.
The oldest of the awards is the Robert Nail Scholarship given by the Ex-Students Association for the first time in 1967 for a total of $100. This year, the fund gave $9,000 in awards.
The Henry Martin Rockwell Endowment Fund administers several scholarships, the largest in honor of John and Nell Carter. This year, there were 11 $2,500 scholarships from that fund alone, totaling $27,500.
The Albany ISD Education Foundation, now in its 16th year, gave 31 scholarships in the amount of $31,000, $500 per semester for students who continue in college or trade school classes and provide proof of full-time enrollment, with the possibility of continuing that for four years.
One fairly new endowed scholarship, the Buddy R. Dulin & Elizabeth H. Dulin Memorial Scholarship, is given in the amount of $2,000 per semester for up to eight semesters to two students for a total of $32,000.
Another four-year award, the Sam Tidwell Memorial Scholarship, was given to a local student. It amounts to $5,000 per semester and can total $40,000 over four years.
The 2025 commencement ceremony was held at the Albany High School gymnasium before a large crowd of friends and relatives.
Class valedictorian Avery Everitt and salutatorian Holden Sanchez each addressed those in attendance.
Scholarships
Alan Heirman Memorial Scholarship given by Joseph WM Foran $1,500 each: Kenzie Neve, Madailein Beard
Albany Academic Booster Club Technical/Trade School Scholarship $1,250 each: Averie Burns, Gabby Lopez, Madelynn Daugherty
Albany Live Scholarship $200 each: Chyanne Jaco, John Birkla, Landon Kreitler, Macie Breeden, Melanie Figuera, Natalin New
Albany PTO College Scholarship $500 each: John Birkla, Landon Balliew, Landon Kreitler, Myleigh Levridge, Will LeMay
Albany PTO Trade School/Vocational Scholarship $750 each: Gabby Lopez, Madelynn Daugherty
Albany Softball Association Scholarship $200 each: Carisa Barrera, Gabby Lopez, Julia Vega
Albany Study Club Scholarship $500 each: Caroline Holson, Jonathan Coody
Aze Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi Scholarship given in memory of Joanna Sullivan $750: Averie Burns; $250 each: Laithe Leech, Macie Breeden, Gabby Lopez, Melanie Figueroa
Bill Webb Memorial Student Fund, Rev. J.A. Owen Scholarship $400: Avery Everitt; $200: Holden Sanchez
Billy Wayne Boland & Son Memorial Scholarship administered through First Baptist Church $500 each: Chip Chambers, Landon Balliew
Buddy R. Dulin & Elizabeth H. Dulin Memorial Scholarship $2,000 per semester up to eight semesters: Laithe Leech, Macie Breeden
City of Albany/Henry Martin Rockwell Endowment Scholarship/Clear Fork Bank $5,000: Avery Everitt (Valedictorian), Holden Sanchez (Salutatorian)
CJ Macon Scholarship $1,500 per semester for up to 4 years: Ben Barwon
Closet Angels Servant’s Heart Award $500: Carisa Barrera
Doug Neece Memorial Scholarship $1,000: Landon Balliew
First Baptist Church Scholarship $1,000: Landon Balliew; $500 each: Ben Barwon, Chip Chambers, Jayce Tinkle
Fort Griffin Fandangle Association Scholarships $1,000 each: Avery Everitt, John Birkla, Laithe Leech, Myleigh Leveridge
Friendship Baptist Church Scholarship $500: Natalin New
Hogan Well Service Award $200 each: Landon Balliew, Will LeMay
Hugh & JoAnna Ayers, Laura Elliott and Wylie Scholarships administered through Matthews Memorial Presbyterian Church $1,500 each: Abi Hale, Ben Barwon, Jake Hale, John Birkla, Laithe Leech, Macie Breeden, Melanie Figueroa
Iron-Bars, Inc Scholarship $1,000 each: Keira Caudel, Macie Breeden, Madelynn Daugherty
J.B. Montgomery Jr Memorial Scholarship $1,000 each: Ethan Green, Laithe Leech, Gabby Lopez
John & Carol Huffman Memorial Scholarship $1,000: Landon Balliew
City of Albany/Henry Martin Rockwell Endowment Fund/John E. & Nellie K. Carter Scholarship $2,500 each: Ann Davis, Ben Barwon, Chip Chambers, Ethan Green, Gabby Lopez, John Birkla, Jonathan Coody, Kenzie Neve, Macie Breeden, Madailein Beard, Will LeMay
Justin Rodriguez (J. Rod) Memorial Scholarship for a trade school $1,000 each: Carisa Barrera, Chip Chambers, Lainey Vaughn
Keith and Steve Carlile Memorial Scholarship $250: Melanie Figueroa
Kevin Ruff Memorial Scholarship administered through Albany Church of Christ $1,000: Avery Everitt; $250 each: Branson Beal, John Birkla, Will Barrett
Kiwanis Club Scholarship $1,750 each: Holden Sanchez, John Birkla, Nathaniel Walker
Lioness Club Scholarship $500: Landon Balliew
Loren and Betty Williams Scholarship given through First Christian Church $1,000: Landon Balliew
Maranatha Fellowship Church Scholarship $2,000 each: Ethan Green, Melanie Figueroa
Mary/Martha Permanent Endowed Scholarship given by the late Marguerite and I.M. Chism, administered through First Baptist Church $750: Ethan Green; $500: Jonathan Coody; $250: Ann Davis
Masonic Lodge Scholarship $2,500 each: Abigayle Hale, Jake Hale, Landon Kreitler
Monte Lewis Memorial Scholarship $500 each: Jake Hale, Laithe Leech, Myleigh Leveridge, Will LeMay
Mrs. Alice Edington Memorial Scholarship administered through the First Baptist Church $500 each: Ann Davis, Ben Barwon
Ragin’ Red Band Boosters College Scholarship $500: Landon Kreitler; $475: John Birkla; $425: Melanie Figueroa; $350 each: Ben Barwon, Chyanne Jaco, Macie Breeden, Natalin New; $300: Donald McCullough; $250: Keira Caudel
Resource Care Summer Day Camp Scholarship $500 each: Julia Vega, Landon Balliew, Madelynn Daugherty
Robert Nail Ex-Student Association Scholarship $1,500 each: Ethan Green, Laithe Leech, Landon Balliew, Lainey Vaughn, Melanie Figueroa, Myleigh Leveridge
Sam and Ellen Webb Albany Heritage Scholarship $1,000: Ethan Green
Sam Tidwell Memorial Scholarship $5,000 per semester for 4 years: Landon Balliew
Sedwick/Rockwell Nursing Scholarship given through the Clear Fork Bank $1,500 each: Abigayle Hale, Hannah Mackenzie, Natalin New
Shelley Cleveland Memorial Scholarship $1,000 each: Branson Beal, John Birkla, Landon Balliew, Will LeMay
The Feed Store Scholarship $350 each: Avery Everitt, Landon Balliew, Madelynn Daugherty; $100 each: Branson Beal, Gabby Lopez, Julia Vega, Laithe Leech, Macie Breeden, Madailein Beard, Melanie Figueroa, Myleigh Leveridge, Will Barrett
The Next Man Scholarship $1,000: Myleigh Leveridge
Turner/Williams Memorial Scholarship given by the Lower Clear Fork of the Brazos SWCD $1,000 each: Ethan Green, Jake Hale, Kenzie Neve, Laithe Leech, Landon Kreitler, Madailein Beard, Will LeMay
XI Chi Pi Scholarship $1,000: John Birkla; $500 each: Chyenne Jaco, Julia Vega, Landon Kreitler, Will Barrett
Albany ISD Education Foundation Scholarships $1,000 each, to be given $500 per semester for 4 years: Landon Balliew, Carisa Barrera, Will Barrett, Benjamin Barwon, Branson Beal, Madailein Beard, John Birkla, Macie Breeden, Brody Brown, Chip Chambers, Jonathan Coody, Madelynn Daugherty, Ann Davis, Avery Everitt, Melanie Figueroa, Coy Flowers, Ethan Green, Jacob Hale, Abigayle Hale, Caroline Holson, Chyanne Jaco, Landon Kreitler, Laithe Leech, Will LeMay, Myleigh Leveridge, Gabby Lopez, Hannah Mackenzie, Kenzie Neve, Natalin New, Lainey Vaughn, Julia Vega
