(article reprinted from the Rockdale News, June 6, 2015)

Three local Rockdale students and their families were aided in their pursuit of higher education with $1000 scholarships from the Rockdale County NAACP chapter, presented at the June 1 meeting.

Shamiiah Beaman, of Salem High’s Class of 2015, is attending Georgia Perimeter College to study criminal justice and to go into law or cosmetology as a career field. She is oldest of nine siblings, quite a few whom were adopted, and was involved with the Interact Club, a volunteer service organization. The scholarship is a definite help to her mother, Natasha Beaman. “I was really really excited for her,” said Natasha. “She’s worked really hard.”

Jamaya Booker, of Heritage High’s Class of 2015, is attending Spelman College with a goal of perhaps going into nursing. She was also a winner in the Rotary Club Laws of Life essay contest, and was active in cheerleading and the color guard. “I was really excited because I need a lot of scholarships” to attend Spelman, she said. 

Jaire Duncan, of Rockdale Magnet School for Science and Technology’s Class of 2015, is attending the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Va., with the goal of going on to Columbia University, to study computer science. His mother, Heather Duncan, said they initially learned of the scholarship from Carol Wilson at Heritage High and were happy when they heard Jaire had won. 

Tommy Plummer, chair of the Education Committee, reiterated the importance of supporting young people in their pursuits and in the importance of young people knowing how to pursue their goals. "This is going to be a start of how life is really going to be at you," said Plummer. "It depends on how much you're really willing to put into it."