Friday, June 20, 2003

News Briefs

Navy Petty 3rd Class Scott W. Raymond, grandson of Suedene Galloway of Fairburn, Ga. recently made a port visit to Guam while assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson, homeported in Bremerton, Wash.

Volunteers from Raymond's ship helped National Wildlife officials clean up Guam's Ritidian Beach. Sailors and Marines also had the opportunity to shop sightsee and enjoy the local culture and cuisine.

Xcelling Youth Zone (XYZ), was founded by Maya Taylor, a mother of five and co-pastor of Open Word Christian Ministries in Fairburn. Recently the XYZ scholarship program awarded four high school seniors over $4,000 toward their college expenses. The criteria included academic considerations, references, community service, and two essays, one on future goals and one on "What Honor and Integrity Mean to Me."

The scholarship recipients are Stephanie Reaves Freeman, a graduate of Fayette County High School who will attend Gwinnett Tech and plans on transferring to Tuskegee University; Claudia Walker, a graduate of Banneker High School who will attend the State University of West Georgia; Brandi Rena Busch, a graduate of Fayette County High School, who will attend Bauder College and Marcus Robertson, a senior at Lovejoy High School, who attend Valdosta State University.