Over $75,000 Awarded In Continued Education Scholarships

Each year, Advent Christian Village (ACV) recognizes outstanding students from our local high school. After a few years away from in-person recognitions, the Marvin E. Jones Memorial Scholarship finalists gathered with their loved ones in Dowling Park to learn whether they would be the recipient of a large college scholarship. The annual event awards college scholarships to deserving Suwannee High School graduates, children of ACV employees, and ACV employees from the Marvin E. Jones Educational Trust and the ACV Forward Fund.

At the conclusion of a delicious meal, ACV President Craig Carter acknowledged the benefactors who established the scholarship trusts, making the entire evening possible. Marvin E. Jones was a graduate of Suwannee High School who became a respected international business executive. Dr. and Mrs. Al Lawton established the Forward Fund at Advent Christian Village to assist employees of ACV and their children to be better able to afford continuing education.

Students and their families heard encouraging remarks from Ted Roush, Suwannee County Superintendent, and Jannette Cruz, previous MEJ scholarship winner. Mike and Robert Jones, sons of Marvin E. Jones, each spoke about the purpose of the scholarship fund. They praised their father who established the trust, describing him as a person who strongly believed in education and wanted to help the young people of Suwannee County to achieve success while congratulating the students.

Forward Fund Trustees Craig Carter and Jim Schenck awarded Forward Fund Scholarships to one ACV employee: Brenda Buehler.

Then, Craig, Mike, and Robert presented the scholarships to the children of ACV employees from the Marvin E. Jones Educational Trust. Receiving scholarships were: Bethany Mabey, Nellie Lamb, Emma Harmon, Eli Nissley, Ben Whiddon, Gabrielle Saavedra, Mattie Harmon, Ginger Whiddon, (not pictured) Baylor Burch, Jeremy Giddens, Matthew Hilliard, Lily Lamb, Adrianna Saavedra.

The final awards of the evening were to the Marvin E. Jones Educational Trust 2022 Suwannee High School finalists. Craig Carter stated that they were pleased to be able to award scholarships to each of the nine finalists. Receiving a one-time scholarship of $1,000 were Tyra Kalandyk, Mattilyn Marsee, Lindsay Self, Coby Campbell, Hayden Swartz, and Bryan Bailey. The two runners up, each receiving a $4,000 scholarship to be awarded over two years, were Julie Romulo-Vazquez, and Matthew Gill. The winner of the four-year scholarship, totaling $20,000, was Natalie Robinson.

Congratulations to each of you on this outstanding accomplishment, and good luck with your continued education and future endeavors!

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