SML Lions Club awards scholarships to eight graduates
This year's SML Lions Club scholarship award recipients are Remington Davis, Brylie Altice, Jonah Bowman, Elijah Chapman, Abigail Deering, Landon Divers, Olga Vasquez and Isaac Walker.
Members of the Smith Mountain Lake Lions met at Copper Cove Golf Club last month to celebrate the achievements of eight Franklin County High School students with scholarship awards.
Tom Smith Skilled Trades Scholarships were granted to two Franklin County students as they pursue their education in preparation for their careers. The first, Remington Davis, is a skilled banjo player and student. He plans to pursue certification as a diesel mechanic at Nashville Auto-Diesel College.
Brylie Altice, president of the Franklin County High School FFA and member of the varsity volleyball team, also received a Tom Smith Skilled Trades Scholarship. Altice plans to pursue a career in nursing.
Jonah Bowman was awarded the Leonard Gereau Award. Bowman served on the high school's superintendent advisory committee. He was also an outstanding track athlete achieving MVP status three times. Bowman plans to study physics and engineering at Longwood University.
Elijah Chapman, the captain of the varsity lacrosse team, will be attending Virginia Tech to study industrial design. In addition to his distinguished academics, Chapman served the community through his efforts at World Hunger Auction. He also worked for the Noke Van Company and Roanoke Mountain Adventures. He was presented with the Jo and Steve Johnson Endowed Award.
Abigail Deering will pursue a degree in biology and intends to continue to a graduate program for a physician’s assistant degree. Deering excelled in sports as the captain of the varsity soccer team. Deering was awarded the Col. Frederick Carroll Award.
Landon Divers received the William O. Davis Endowed Award. Divers was the captain of the varsity lacrosse team, a varsity football team member and the homecoming king. He also worked as a lifeguard and waiter during high school. Divers is heading to Liberty University to study sports medicine.
Olga Vasquez is the recipient of the Jody D. and Joseph G. Endowed Award. Vasquez will attend the University of Virginia to achieve a degree in nursing. During high school, she served as the student council treasurer, a translator at Carilion, a volunteer firefighter and worked in her family’s restaurant. Vasquez has previously worked as a certified medical assistant and volunteer at Franklin Memorial Hospital.
Also accepted to University of Virginia and enrolled in the computer engineering program is Isaac Walker, who received the Tom Scott Award. Walker served on the Franklin County school board as a student representative. He is a Skills USA 2026 State Champion in cybersecurity and won a biliteracy award. Walker is a varsity wrestler who also manages his own personal landscaping business.
In addition to honoring graduates at this year's ceremony, the Melvin Jones Award was presented to Jody Brown honoring her extensive involvement and leadership in the Lions Club. Brown organized multiple SML Lions events and has led the SML Lions Club Scholarship Trust for years. She has also assisted as treasurer for Scruggs Volunteer Fire Department for many years and is one of three appointees to a bipartisan board supervising state elections.
The Lions Scholarship Trust was created in 1991 and since then has granted more than $850,000 in scholarships enabling more than 170 outstanding students to advance their education in pursuit of their chosen fields. Students are selected according to academic excellence in high school, significant extracurricular and community involvement, financial need, positive recommendations from references and application essays.Â
