The Grant Review Committee of the Hot Springs Area Community Foundation recently selected Erica Wilmath for a $1,500 scholarship from the Chitwood, Johnson, Steinman Endowment Fund.
The fund was established in 1997 by Joseph Russell Chitwood, a longtime Hot Springs resident, former postal worker and history enthusiast. His family has continued to honor his wishes by either awarding an annual scholarship or giving half the allowable spendable funds to the Garland County Historical Society in years when there have been no applicants. Since 2002, more than $19,000 has been awarded due to Chitwood's generosity and desire to establish the perpetual fund, a news release said.
Students chosen for the scholarship award must be graduating seniors in Garland County who plan to major in social sciences or a related field and will attend an accredited college or university. The student must have a high school GPA of 3.00, show financial need, community leadership and the potential to succeed in college.
Wilmath graduated from Cutter Morning Star High School with a 3.54 GPA and will attend Ouachita Baptist University in the fall. She was a president of both the FCCLA and Oaklawn Rotary Interact Club, and a member of FBLA, Drama Club, Beta Club, and Talent Search. In addition, she was an active member of both the volleyball and cheer teams. She was chosen by her high school's staff to lead a student presentation about their new FLEX MOD scheduling, which involved making presentations to multiple school boards in Arkansas.
With a history of mental illness in her immediate family, Wilmath intends to become a mental health enthusiast and psychologist. Her future goals include one day opening her own practice and dedicating her life to helping others in need of emotional guidance and support.
The Arkansas Community Foundation helps families, companies and individuals set up scholarship funds to benefit Arkansas students seeking higher education. Donors partner with the Community Foundation to create private scholarship funds because they deeply care about Arkansas's students and want to invest in their education. The donors determine the size and eligibility criteria for the scholarships they create. Currently, over 700 scholarships are managed by the Arkansas Community Foundation on their behalf. Email Joyce Whitfield, Hot Springs executive director, at [email protected] or call 501-620-4008 for more information.
School on 07/15/2018