The Designing Women Foundation honored a scholarship recipient along with the nonprofit organization’s Charlie Classics readers on Monday, May 13, at the Bloodworth House.

Kaylee Brown of the Poplar Bluff High School Class of 2024 was awarded the Designing Women Scholarship, valued at $1,000. She plans to attend Three Rivers College, majoring in general education. Brown has been an A-honor roll student throughout her academic career at PBHS.

The top readers of their class were additionally presented with $300. At Junior High, outgoing seventh grader Isabella Teeter read 30 books throughout the school year, while outgoing eighth grader Kendall Fitzwater read 20. At PBHS, outgoing freshman Andrew Mahurin read 11 books, while outgoing junior Mackinley Cox read 15, adding to her total of 103 Charlie Classics already completed since grade seven.

The Charlie Classics Reading Program is available to all Poplar Bluff Junior and Senior High students. Started by Linda Bloodworth Thomason in 1990, students are encouraged to read literature with a goal of completing 100 classics by the end of their senior year. Charlie Classics readers have been awarded a total of $197,565 thus far toward their college educations, according to Linda Surber, board secretary. For more information, visit designingwomenfoundation.org.

###

Cutline: (Left to right) Junior High librarian Nikki Davis; students Isabella Teeter, Kendall Fitzwater, Andrew Mahurin, Mackinley Cox and Kaylee Brown; R-I Superintendent Dr. Aaron Cornman; and PBHS librarian Marci Priest.