Arab Optimist Club
Awards $10,000 In Scholarships

The Arab Optimist Club handed out $10,000 in scholarships to local students during ceremonies held May 24. Front Row L-R: Lydia Latham, Sarah Howard, Alora K. Dunn, Sydnee Terry, Mariah D'Angelo, Taylor Griffin, Ashely Vickers, Jennifer Thomas, Mary Knutson. Back Row L-R: Jake Harbin, Ragan Haymon, Taylor Holloway, Trey Hamilton, Tyler Hodges, Blake Beam. Not available for photo: Brooklyn Smith, Andrew Davis, John Ellis Smith. Arab Today photo by Dwight Hayes

May 30, 2010
The Arab Optimist Club celebrated Youth Appreciation Week with a banquet celebration on May 24th at the Arab Recreation Center. Some 18 Arab scholarship winners and their parents were invited to the event where Optimist President Kent Gibbs handed out scholarship checks totalling $10,000.

Gibbs said the organization has awarded over $150,000 in scholarships over the past 10 years. Gibbs said the Club also recently donated $2,000 to the AHS Robotics Team and has made donations to Arab Musical Theatre and Golden Living.

The organization raises money for the scholarships and community projects primarily through the sale of Boston Butts.

Honored Students and scholarship award amounts.....

Blake Beam - $1,0000 "Willard Law Scholarship"

Taylor Holloway - $1,000 "Kent Gibbs Scholarship"

Taylor Griffin - $500

Trey Hamilton - $500

Ragan Haymon - $500

Mariah D-Angelo - $500

Tyler Hodges - $500

Sarah Howard - $500

Mary Knutson - $500

Lydia Latham (L) and Alora Dunn (center) each received a $250 scholarship after Dunn asked to share her award with good friend Latham.

Sydnee Terry - $500

Jennifer Thomas - $500

Ashley Vickers - $500

Jake Harbin - $500 - Harbin a 2010 Junior received the scholarship to attend the Lott Leadership Institute to be held this summer at "Ole Miss" University of Mississippi.

Scholarship recipients not attending the banquet are:

Brooklyn Smith - $1,000 - "Lonnie Polling Scholarship"

Andrew Davis - $500

John Ellis Smith - $500