(Left to right) Leroy Steed Scholarship winners William Johnson, Jaraad Hazel, Kia Johnson and Angelique Green talked about their plans for the future during the Richmond County Neighborhood Association Alliance, Inc., 14th annual Scholarship Banquet Feb. 26 at the Gordon Club. Photo by Bonnie Heater Four local high school seniors were honored at the 14th annual Scholarship Banquet of the Richmond Neighborhood Association Alliance, Inc., held Feb. 26 at the Gordon Club. “Do Not Wither on the Vine” was this year’s theme.

The alliance was formed in 1994 by members of several neighborhoods in South Augusta to address critical needs in their communities. The primary goals of the alliance from its conception, was to keep the neighborhoods informed, improve safety with increased police presence and to create neighborhood watch programs, according to Catherine Winbush, a member of the banquet committee.

In 1997 the Richmond County Neighborhood Alliance held its first annual banquet. The alliance created this banquet to recognize and honor its membership or other individuals who have provided outstanding service to their community. The Leroy Steed Scholarship Award was created by the alliance to honor Steed, who served as the first annual banquet chairman. During his lifetime he possessed an undying passion to provide children with a safe environment and a productive future. The scholarship is awarded to high school seniors from Richmond County who applied and met the alliance’s criteria.

This year’s applicants researched and wrote an essay addressing the rising number of homeless in Augusta.

Winners of this year’s Leroy Steed Scholarship Awards were Jaraad Hazel, a student at Cross Creek High School; William Johnson of Richmond Academy, and Kia Johnson and Angelique Green, who are attending Davidson Fine Arts Magnet School in Augusta.

Hazel plans to use the $700 scholarship to study post and secondary education at South Carolina State University in Orangeburg, S.C.

The other three recipients received $600 scholarships.

Johnson plans to major in political science at Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, Ga. She aspires to be a lawyer. Green, who plans to study business management at Georgia State University in Atlanta, Ga., wants to be a business owner. Johnson aspires to own an engineering business. He will be majoring in aerospace engineering at Southern Polytechnic State University in Marietta, Ga.

The banquet sponsors were Hudson Grassing Company, Jefferson Electric Cooperative, Augusta Blueprint, Richmond County Marshall’s Office, Century 21 – Jeff Keller Realty, Richmond County Sheriff’s Department, Sandridge Community Association and Richmond County Democratic Party.

Students attending any of the Richmond County Schools can contact their guidance counselors to learn more about the Leroy Steed Scholarship and individuals wanting information about the Richmond County Neighborhood Association Alliance, Inc., can contact Sammie Sias, the alliance president, at (706) 840-5240.