Comments (0) | |

Tuesday, May. 05, 2009

First Peyton Anderson scholars named, awarded $75,000 in college scholarships

Fifteen graduating high school seniors were named the first Peyton Anderson scholars Monday, and they will split a total of $75,000 in college scholarships.

“I would’ve had a hard time paying tuition without it,” said Andrea Livingston, a Southwest High School senior who was awarded $5,000 a year to attend the University of Georgia. “It means a lot and I’m happy they have something specific for Bibb County students.”

Anderson was a former owner and publisher of The Macon Telegraph and The Macon News. The nonprofit Peyton Anderson Foundation, which started in Macon 20 years ago, was funded from Anderson’s estate after his death in 1988.

This year, to signify the milestone year, the foundation’s five trustees considered several projects, including one dealing with downtown revitalization.

But trustees settled on helping passionate, college-bound students with their education, Executive Director Juanita Jordan said.

That was something Anderson himself championed during his lifetime.

“We wanted to do something really, really special to commemorate the anniversary,” Jordan said. “We brainstormed what would be good and always came back to scholarships because of (Anderson’s) interest in educating young people at the paper.”

Anderson awarded his first scholarship to Macon native Tom Johnson, a former CNN president and Los Angeles Times publisher who credits his success to Anderson’s financial and personal support.

Johnson was 14 years old when he began working nights and weekends as a sports stringer at The Telegraph. His father was ill and his mother worked at a grocery store.

Anderson quickly took note of the young man’s ambition and later paid Johnson’s way through the University of Georgia and later Harvard Business School.

“I don’t know that I would have been able to go to college” without his help, said Johnson, who was the keynote speaker at a luncheon gathering at the Woodruff House. Scholarships then were for high-achieving students and Johnson said he wasn’t a straight A student.

Anderson also awarded $500 a month to help put Jim Wooten, a columnist and associate editorial page editor for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, through college. Wooten is a native of McRae who once lived in Macon public housing. He worked at The Macon News while he was in school.

Now, 20 years after the foundation started, trustees said returning to those roots was only fitting.

“I think it is perhaps one of the best investments the Peyton Anderson Foundation has made since its establishment,” said Johnson, who lives in Atlanta and is a trustee. “Peyton would be so proud this program was established.”

From among 39 applicants, 15 students were chosen from various Bibb County high schools. The students ranged from a valedictorian to those with lower grade-point averages who the trustees decided had great potential.

Depending on their financial need, where they are attending college and other factors, the students were awarded anywhere from $3,000 to $7,500 in annual scholarships.

Other 2009 Peyton Anderson scholars are: Yi’Sheika Bell, Westside; Jessica Burnett, Northeast; Ronald Butts, Southwest; Reginald Cater, Northeast; Kasey Darley, Westside; Ashton Harris, Westside; Lorraine Knight, Westside; Charles Morris III, Mount de Sales; Lana Ogburn, Central; India Richardson, Northeast; Lateefah Stanley, Southwest; Lorin Sullivan, Tattnall Square; Umar Taskeen, Rutland; and Elizabeth Weaver, Westside.

Bibb County public school officials also will recognize the scholars on graduation commencement programs later this month.

The Peyton Anderson Foundation plans to make the scholarships annual awards and invite alumni back for the yearly luncheons.

To contact writer Julie Hubbard call, 744-4331.