The Designing Women Foundation presented $5,650 to Poplar Bluff students in scholarships and awards through its local program opportunities on Monday, May 12, at the Bloodworth House.
Outgoing senior Mackinley Cox was the 43rd student to be awarded the Charlie Classics Scholarship, valued at $2,000, for reading over 100 classics throughout her academic career. She was additionally awarded the $1,000 Designing Women Scholarship, along with Cora Pendley of the PBHS Class of 2025.
Pendley plans to major in horticulture at Murray State University in Kentucky. Cox, who read a total of 118 books, intends to major in biomedical sciences at Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau. She was also awarded $300 for being the top reader of her class, completing 15 pieces of classic literature this academic year.
Other top readers were incoming senior Claire Funke, who was awarded $300 for reading 10 books; incoming junior Savannah Thomas, who earned $300 for reading 11 books; incoming freshman Andrew Pennell, who received $300 for reading 30 books, while his classmate Ayannah Gipson was awarded $150 for reading 20; and incoming eighth grader Isaiah Eastep, who took home $300 for reading 25 classics.
Founded by Linda Bloodworth Thomason in 1990, the program encourages Junior and Senior High students to read Charlie Classics with the goal of completing 100 books from the vetted list by graduation. To date, the reading program's scholarship recipients have been awarded nearly $200,000 toward their higher education.
The DWF is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the cultural and educational enrichment of deserving young people, primarily women. For more information, visit designingwomenfoundation.org.
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Cutline: Linda Surber, DWF board member and R-I Superintendent Dr. Aaron Cornman present Mackinley Cox with the Charlie Classics and Designing Women scholarships.