PORTSMOUTH, Va. — A Norfolk-based nonprofit awarded three high school students with their top scholarship in a special, drive-by dropoff fashion on Tuesday.
An ACCESS College Foundation caravan led by local radio DJ Shaggy from Z104 personally delivered the scholarship awards to students' homes.
With balloons in hand, the group along -- with some school staff -- made their way to each home to deliver this awesome news with a parade.
Charlescie Brown, a Churchland High School graduate and recipient, said, “My heart was beating! I did not know what was going on. I was so excited, happy, and grateful.”
Charlescie was speechless when presented with the award but her counselor Christian Howton knows she is deserving of the scholarship.
“Charlescie is super-driven, very mature, well-spoken... a very deserving student of this scholarship and I can't think of anyone better to represent Churchland and ACCESS,” said Howton.
With a smile on her face, Charlescie said that because of this, she won't have to get a part-time job and can further focus on her studies.
The two other scholarships were handed out to students in Virginia Beach and Chesapeake.
In total, ACCESS College Foundation is awarding 116 local high school graduates with nearly $700,000 in scholarships as they prepare to head off to college. ACCESS will also be hosting a virtual scholarship awards celebration on Friday, June 19 via Instagram stories and IGTV.
ACCESS College Foundation, a Norfolk-based nonprofit, aids the college journeys of public school students in South Hampton Roads, Northampton County, and Western Tidewater. They've been awarding graduates with scholarships for 32 years.