Amanda Dawson is a graduating senior at Tyler Consolidated High School.
KIDWELL, W.Va. — Tyler Consolidated High School senior Amanda Dawson is this year’s recipient of the Adam R. Kelly Memorial Scholarship Award.
The announcement was made May 22 by TCHS Principal Kent Yoho during the Class of 2014 commencement exercises.
Dawson is the daughter of the Rev. and Mrs. Bill and Dawson of Sistersville. She was selected by the scholarship committee to receive the $500 cash award. Dawson plans to attend Fairmont State University for a double major in exercise science and Spanish.
The scholarship is given annually to a graduating senior from TCHS in honor of Adam Kelly, the late “Country Editor” columnist. It was established in June 1990 in memory of Kelly, who died three months earlier at the age of 65.
Kelly moved to Sistersville in 1954 and remained there until the time of his death, serving as editor and publisher of the Tyler Star News until 1979. He then began writing “The Country Editor” column, which appeared in the Wheeling Intelligencer and News-Register, The Parkersburg Sentinel and several other West Virginia publications. Kelly won numerous state and national awards for his pieces.
From 1990 to 1993, two scholarships were given each year to Tyler County graduating seniors. The scholarship committee considered candidates from both Sistersville and Tyler County high schools, selecting one recipient each year from each school.
When the two county high schools were consolidated in September 1993, the scholarship committee opted to award one scholarship to a Tyler Consolidated senior.
Applicants must submit a resume along with an essay titled “In Defense of Freedom.”
They are also interviewed by the scholarship committee. The students’ applications, essays, academic achievements, extracurricular activities, college plans and financial need are assessed by the committee members during the selection process.
While a student at Tyler Consolidated, Dawson was a top 10 finalist in the West Virginia Scholar Scholarship competition during her junior year and a People’s Bank Top 15 Percent Award recipient for four years.
She earned 4.0 Honor Roll accolades each year, and was recognized for faithful attendance. She was a four-time Tyler County Young Writers winner, Tyler Consolidated Student of the Month, and Tyler Consolidated Academic Letter Award winner.
She is proficient in Spanish and is a student of piano…
