ATLAS Announces 2020 Lawton Scholars!
In it’s Fifth year, the Lawton scholarship continues to create pathways for students to achieve their academic pursuits without undue financial burden.
This year will most certainly be remembered as an unprecedented year. For our high school seniors, this spring is marked by distance learning and virtual awards ceremonies/graduations. For four deserving young men and women, this spring also means being named an ATLAS Lawton Scholar for 2020. The students were chosen through a rigorous review and interview process performed by a selection committee consisting of ATLAS team members, board members, partners and the Lawton family. So without further adieu, we are proud to present the following students as ATLAS’ 2020 Lawton Scholars!
Ricquaria Griggs is described by her teachers and administrators at Greene County High School as “personable, hardworking, and motivated … she gives attention to detail and is not afraid to go the extra mile to get the job done.” She excels academically and as a result, was named Salutatorian of her senior class. She was involved in many community activities including the Pete Nance Boys & Girls Club, where she was named Youth of the Year for 2019. She also served as President of the Greene County DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America)
Through DECA, Griggs earned two first place honors in state-level marketing competitions. She received the Rotary Student of the Month earlier this year and was awarded the Rotary Student of the Year for 2020. She was also a member of UGA Leadership. She also played on GCHS’s varsity basketball team and was captain of the high school dance team.
In addition to school and community activities, Griggs participated in work-based learning through which she had an internship that allowed her to learn about and work toward her future career goals. According to her work-based learning teacher, her employer is “constantly impressed with her work ethic and responsibility,” and they said that she has “taken the lead on projects to help make their company more productive.” She will begin her college studies this fall at the Savannah College of Arts and Design in Savannah, Ga., to pursue her bachelor’s degree in fine arts with a major in fashion design and a minor in business.
Zach Tolleson is a standout in academics as well as leadership and athletics. In the top-10 of his graduating class, Tolleson received the Lake Oconee Academy’s High Honors distinction by achieving all A’s each semester. He was named to the National Honor Society, was an AP Scholar, achieving highest marks on advanced placement tests, and was a member of Beta Club. In addition, he received the school’s Cornerstone Award in Scholarship as a Freshman. Tolleson’s leadership qualities helped him compile a long list of accomplishments at school and in the community. He is a member of the Boy Scouts and served as a Patrol Leader for four years. He earned the distinction of Life Scout, the second highest rank attainable. He also served as a Huddle Leader in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and was appointed to the Junior Board of Directors for Farmers and Merchants Bank. In addition, he participated in Youth Leadership Greene. He is also on the student leadership committee of his church. His athletic talent has earned him a place on the baseball team at Covenant College, where he will begin in the fall. He was team captain on his travel and varsity baseball teams and was named an MVP for baseball and cross-country. One of his coaches remarked, “Zach’s impact on the LOA athletic department will be extremely long-lasting.” His impact on others goes beyond athletics. When players asked about him reading his Bible, he began a Bible study in the back of the team bus to and from baseball games. He remarked in his interview with the Lawton family, “I always feel that God has put me in situations to share the gospel.” An opportunity that made a great impact on him was his week-long visit to the 7 Mindsets Ultimate Life Summit Leadership Conference in the summer of 2018. He served as the school representative for LOA and called the experience “life-changing,” saying, “I learned a lot about my spiritual self,” and he is certain that he has a passion for service and making a difference in the lives of people around him. His plans at Covenant College, in addition to baseball, are to study to become a physical therapist.
McGinnis Bryan touts music as one of his many talents and passions. He participated in Lake Oconee Academy’s symphonic band and was active with the jazz band and the pep band for five years. McGinnis’s music talent helped him represent LOA in the District Honor Band, where he received honors for trumpet. He was also a second-round all-state winner in trumpet. At LOA, Bryan served as a teacher’s assistant in band, helping teach younger students and mentor them as they grew in their music. He says that this experience has helped him realize that he enjoys being a leader and that in the future, he wants to use that leadership in business and continue to be a mentor to others. Academically, Bryan excelled, being named to A and A/B Honor rolls throughout his high school years. He took multiple Advanced Placement courses and in addition, earned dual enrollment credit from GA Military College. Bryan said in his interview with the Lawton family that the dual enrollment really made him “adjust his timing to get the work done, but now he will know what college looks like.” He was a member of Beta Club and as a senior, received the Dean’s Merit Scholarship from Georgia College & State University. In the community, he is active in his church as a volunteer, having served in many capacities including Vacation Bible School, Operation Christmas Child, and The Lakeside Church Pumpkin Patch. He will attend the University of Georgia to major in finance or accounting, saying that he would like to continue using his music there, possibly in the UGA band.
Jessica Patino is described as “hard working, critical thinker, and intellectual powerhouse” by her teachers at Lake Oconee Academy. As a student who initially was very quiet in class, she blossomed into one who actively participates in discussions, serves as a mentor to younger students, and gives back to her community in a variety of ways. Her academic success is evident by her ranking in the top five of her class and in the list of local and regional accomplishments including AP Scholar with Distinction, the CEO Award for Highest GPA, and a Governor’s Honor Candidate for Greene County. She honed her leadership skills in Student Government, participating in Youth Leadership Greene, and serving on the Junior Board of Directors of Farmers and Merchants Bank. She also displayed leadership while playing varsity soccer as a starting player and as a variety runner, serving as a manager on the team. She credits her long involvement with Beta Club for helping her grow her outstanding academic and leadership qualities. A member since fifth grade, she served as a club officer and also participated in Spanish competitions at the yearly Beta Convention, making runner-up as a freshman and placing first in her sophomore and junior years. Her passion for community service comes as a result of her continuous participation in service projects through Beta Club, Pete Nance Boys and Girls Club, Second Harvest Food Bank, Rivers Alive, and others, learning about other people’s struggles, and looking for ways to help. She will enter the Georgia Institute of Technology in the fall with plans to major in biology and become a dermatologist.
2020 marks the fifth year for ATLAS partnering with Greg and Anna Lawton to bring award what is currently the largest private scholarship in Greene County. The Fund is a minimum 10-year commitment that awards qualified students the opportunity to pursue their college or vocational dreams. Students are able to fulfill their educational requirements for up to four years if they continue to meet the obligations of the scholarship. The Lawtons established the direction and purpose of their Scholarship Fund, which is to inspire hope, build futures, and transform the lives of teens in Greene County.
The Lawton Family Scholarship Fund is a way in which Greg and Anna Lawton feel they can provide special support to the community they have come to call home. “A quality education is one of our family’s core values,” the Lawtons assert, “and we feel blessed to connect with students in Greene County where this Scholarship Fund can inspire them to aspire to pursue their educational goals without undue financial burden. Our dream is to have many Lawton Scholars thrive with their educational dreams and pursue careers that positively impact their lives and the future communities where they choose to reside. Our family will be involved as Mentors to these individuals during their educational journey and future work-related roles.”
Congratulations once more to our 2020 Lawton Scholars!
