Traeveon Coleman
Michelle Lopez (mother), Alea Davis, Jeff Davis (father), and Stacy Elrod
James McKissic (uncle), Zora McKissic and Velma McKissic (mother)
Kalpana Patel (mother) Suhani Patel and Jitendra Patel (father)
Taharka Slaughter (mother), Corey Slaughter Sr. (father), and Isaiah Slaughter
The first graduates of Hamilton County Schools to receive scholarships from the LaBrenda Johnson Memorial Scholarship Endowment administered by the Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga have learned of their selection. Dr. Bryan Johnson, superintendent of Hamilton County Schools, established the scholarship fund in 2019 with $15,000 that he received as a part of his compensation package for meeting a Level 5 composite student growth score for the district set by the Hamilton County School Board. Level 5 is the highest designation for student growth recognized by the state.
Scholarship awards ranged from $500 for book stipends to $1,500 for tuition to help deserving students with college expenses. The five winners of the grand scholarship award of $1,500 were Traeveon Coleman, The Howard School; Alea Davis, East Ridge High; Zora McKissic, STEM School Chattanooga; Suhani Patel, Hixson High; and Isaiah Slaughter, Brainerd High.
Additional scholarships for book stipends were awarded to 10 Class of 2020 graduates. Stipends of $750 each were awarded to Lucy Calhoun, Signal Mountain High; India Goldston, Tyner Academy; Jackson Key, Soddy Daisy High; John Key, Soddy Daisy High; and MacKayla Wall, Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences. Stipend awards of $500 were awarded to Mollie Bishop, Hixson High; James Ortiz, Central High; Brinley Screws, Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences; Samantha Smith, Signal Mountain High; and Timia White, Tyner Academy.
Dr. Johnson and his wife Candy, presented each grand scholarship winner with a check during the announcement of the scholarships to honor his late mother, LaBrenda Sonnette Johnson. The awards honor the legacy of Mrs. Johnson.
“My mother taught my brothers and sisters and me many things, but the importance of education was at the very top of that list,” Dr. Johnson shared with the graduates. “She also taught us that life is not about what you get but what you give.”
Traeveon Coleman enjoyed his experience at Howard High. He is looking forward to moving on to the next phase of life as he seeks to major in business and return to Chattanooga one day to open a restaurant. Mr. Coleman loves to cook just about anything. He plans to attend Claflin University in Orangeburg, S.C., this fall.
Alea Davis leaves East Ridge High with an interest in biochemistry and would like to explore a career in genetics. She plans to study at the University of Memphis this fall.
Zora McKissic loved project-based learning at STEM School Chattanooga. She is a history buff, and that will be her major at Howard University. Ms. McKissic’s career goals include using her degree in history to become a museum curator after graduation from college.
The service life of nursing has been the focus of Suhani Patel in the CHI Memorial Institute of Healthcare and Medical Careers at Hixson High. She also won the CHI Memorial Scholarship, and she is the Salutatorian at Hixson this year. The career goals for Ms. Patel include becoming a registered nurse and a nurse practitioner. She will attend UTC this fall.
Isaiah Slaughter, a graduate of Brainerd High, also seeks a service life for his future. He plans to major in criminal justice in college with a desire to serve as a parole officer as his career. Mr. Slaughter will attend Dr. Johnson’s alma mater Austin Peay State University in the fall.
Dr. Johnson credited the students, teachers, leaders, staff, parents, and community for the success of Hamilton County Schools. He thanked the first recipients of the scholarship for their commitment to excellence and challenged them to make the most of their opportunities in the next few years as they set their path for the future.
I am appreciative of our teachers, leaders, and you for what you have done in your school career to make our school district successful,” added Dr. Johnson. “Because of those efforts, you have risen to the top in your selection to receive these scholarships.”
The LaBrenda Johnson Memorial Scholarship is administered through the Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga and provides five scholarships for seniors in Hamilton County Schools. Those interested in donating to the fund can contact Rebecca Suttles, director of scholarships, 1400 Williams Street, Chattanooga, Tennessee, 37408, or call 265- 7239.