By Judith Roberts
Three students will start college this fall with a little extra scholarship funding, thanks to the Rotary Club.
Ruston High School’s Riley Oakley and Jackson Pilgreen and Cedar Creek’s Sophia Parkman won $1,500 scholarships writing essays on the Rotary 4 Way Test.
Oakley plans to major in aerospace university and is still choosing between multiple colleges. During her time in high school, she served as a National Honor Society member, part of the Bearcats United in Making Spirit and served as Louisiana Area I president for Future Farmers of America.
Oakley is also an active member of her church, St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, and part of the YoungLife Club. She was awarded the Kim Dupree State Farm Athlete of the Month for October 2021, Academic All-State Composite Team for volleyball and was on the Principal’s List for all four years of her high school.
Pilgreen plans to attend Louisiana State University and major in electrical engineering. During his time at Ruston High, he was on the varsity basketball team, varsity baseball team and was a National Honor Society Member.
Pilgreen also volunteered with Bearcat Ballers and Buddy Ball and served as a Weekend of the Cross and Trunk or Treat volunteer. He was awarded Most Improved for basketball, was on the Principal’s List and was recognized by the Monroe News-Star as a Top 22 of 22 Athletes in the Area.
Parkman is also choosing from multiple college options but plans to study biomedical engineering so she can work to construct prosthetic devices. During her time at Cedar Creek, she served as Student Council president, vice president of the National Honor Society and Cougar Ambassador.
Parkman also has worked as a camp counselor at Redeemed Ranch, served as an art/livestock clinic instructor, and went on a mission trip to Boston. Additionally, she is known as an AP Scholar with Honor, a Scholastic Art and Writing Gold Key Honoree and a Louisiana Reserve Champion Premier Goat exhibitor.
