20 area students to receive book scholarships

ZANESVILLE — The Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship Fund Committee has announced recipients for the 28th annual book scholarship program.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, presentation will be via a pre-taped television program to air at 12:30 p.m. Jan 17, on WHIZ-TV. Each graduating senior will receive $500 for the purchase of college books.

The associated MLK Prayer Breakfast will honor Transitions Women's Shelter. Transitions is a domestic violence shelter that has provided trauma-informed direct services for survivors of domestic violence in Muskingum County since 1979.

Scholarship recipients are:

Olivia Adams

The daughter of Debra and Gary Adams is a senior at John Glenn High School. She's involved in National Honor Society, Key Club, Family Career and Community Leaders of America and choir. She plans to attend Ohio University or Muskingum University to study nursing.

Alexis Barnett

The daughter of Melinda Moeller is a senior at Zanesville High School. She's involved in Assembly Club and the Licking County League Leadership Group. She also plays basketball and volleyball. She is undecided on her major and college of attendance.

Amasia Barnett

The daughter of Carrie and Tommy Barnett is a senior at Philo High School. She's involved in 4-H, Big Brothers Big Sisters and volunteers at Eastside Community Ministry. She is also active in Key Club, iBelieve, National Honor Society, SADD Club, Electric Leader, volleyball, basketball and softball. She plans to become a dental hygienist and has yet to select a college.

Jenna Carlisle

The daughter of Pamela and Craig Carlisle is a senior at Bishop Rosecrans High School. She's involved in varsity basketball, School Ambassadors and the Muskingum County Community Youth Foundation. She is the vice president of Key Club and National Honor Society. She plans to study nursing at a college to be decided.

Sadie Gill

The daughter of Shannon and Chad Gill is a senior at West Muskingum High School. She's involved in marching band, a capella choir, pep band, theater, Key Club, Church Youth Group and ASL Club. She plans to study speech-language pathology at a college to be decided.

Bailey Gilliam

The daughter of Johonna Lovato is a senior at Zanesville High School. She's the vice president of FFA. She plans to attend Colorado State University to study zoology.

Chloe Hittle

The daughter of Erin Hittle-Smith and Jared Smith is a senior at Maysville High School. She does work trips at Timothy Hill Children’s Ranch for underprivileged kids, coaches youth basketball at the YMCA, sings at the community center and volunteers at assisted living facilities, the animal shelter and community service projects to register women to vote. She is a member of Daughters of the American Revolution, her church youth group, 4-H, Girl Scouts, basketball, soccer, track, pole-vault, dance, a capella choir, International Championship of High School A Capella (ICHSA), District Honors choir, All-State Honors choir, painting classes, and AP-Spanish. She plans to attend Youngstown State University or Bowling Green State University to major in social studies with a minor in Spanish.

Madyson Mayle

The daughter of Lisa and Donald Mayle is a senior at John Glenn High School. She's involved in marching band. She plans to attend Muskingum University or Otterbein University to study nursing.

RaShaun Merriman

The son of Lindsay Puryear and Brian Merriman is a senior at Zanesville High School. He's involved in Ohio-South Ohio Young People’s Division as first vice president, St. Paul A.M.E Young People’s Division as president, Muskingum County Community Youth Foundation as treasurer, ZHS Drama Club, ZHS Student Council, ZHS Orchestra and Satin Strings, Blue Knights Jazz Band, OMEA East Regional Orchestra, OMEA All-State Orchestra and is a Zane State CCP Student. He plans to attend Muskingum University to study nursing.

Jennifer Milstead

The daughter of Ellen and Douglas Milstead is a senior at Tri-Valley High School. She's involved in volunteering in her free time through the Muskingum County Community Youth Foundation and other events while working three to four days a week. She plans to attend Ohio State University to study Chinese.

KayLee Norris

The daughter of Melinda Umstott and Jason Norris is a senior at West Muskingum High School. She has a full-time job and is involved in Kairos Youth Group at her church. She plans to attend Ohio State University or Liberty University to study theology.

Oliver Oseguera

The son of Omar Oseguera and Mayra Marquez is a senior at Tri-Valley High School. He's involved in Ruri-Teen and Tri-Valley Student Council and is the stat keeper for the high school boys soccer team. He plans to study biomedical engineering at a college to be decided.

Michael Smith

The son of Tasia and Jonathan Smith is a senior at Bishop Rosecrans High School. He's involved in drama club, Spanish club, campus ministry, mock trial, pep club, CYF Genesis Volunteer, church choir, National Honor Society, track and House Council. He plans to attend Ohio State University to study pre-nursing.

Rachel Smith

The daughter of Tasia and Jonathan Smith is a senior at Bishop Rosecrans High School. She's involved in pep club, drama club, campus ministry, track and field and CYF. She's also a Genesis volunteer and COGASOC Youth delegate. She plans to attend Ohio State University to study neuroscience.

Brooklyn Snoddy

The daughter of Heather and William Snoddy is a senior at Zanesville High School. She's involved in basketball, track, pep club, assembly club, National Honor Society and works at Teresa's Boutique. She plans to study nursing at a to be decided college.

Jaci Stoner

The daughter of Trina and James Stoner is a senior at John Glenn High School. She's involved in National Honor Society and works at Taco Bell. She has also been involved in soccer and archery. She plans to attend Muskingum University to study nursing.

Christina Tang

The daughter of Ren Zhen Liu and Meng Qiang Tang is a senior at West Muskingum High School. She's involved in Key Club, student council, National Honor Society, Global Scholars, Big Brothers Big Sisters Lunch Buddies, The Community Bank Junior Board, archery, concert band and marching band. She plans to study marketing at a college to be decided.

Isabella Trujillo

The daughter of Julie Collins and Robert Trujillo is a senior at John Glenn High School. She's involved in String Sounds and National Honor Society. She plans to attend Muskingum University to study biology.

Naomi Wachter-Francis

The daughter of Monica Crawford is a senior at Tri-Valley High School. She's on the track and field team and is working a part-time job at Hobby Lobby. She plans to study architecture at a college to be decided.

DaJean Walker

The nephew of Nora Walker is a senior at Zanesville High School. He's the president of student council and is heavily involved in the Voice of the Youth. He plans to attend Howard University or Capital University to study political science and then onto law school.

This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: 20 area students to receive book scholarships