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A group of retired school personnel recently honored three Butler County graduates with scholarships.

During its June 4 meeting, the Butler County Education Retirees Association (BCERA) presented scholarships to Grayson Edwards of Georgiana School, Ja’Maya Alexis Coleman of Greenville High School and Michelle Johnson of McKenzie School.

“We were able this year to provide three $500 scholarships,” BCERA President R. Wayne Boswell said. “The students can use it for whatever they want – textbooks – or whatever they need. We ask that they spend it wisely. We ask our members for donations and they dig in their pockets a little bit deeper to help these students. Even though we’re retired, we care about the students in the Butler County School System.”

Superintendent Dr. John Strycker spoke about the qualities held by each of the students.

“I want to speak to the leadership of these students,” he said. “It’s leadership that is so desperately needed in this state. I want to thank the parents and the students for the leadership that these students bring to the classroom. While we appreciate the test scores, it is the leadership — leadership for young students. The younger students look up to the older students. I appreciate the role models that they provide.”

Allin Whittle, scholarship chairman, said the decisions were difficult because of the quality of the students that were considered.

“Every time we get the score sheets out it’s always difficult,” he concluded. “The candidate scores were so good. The references that had come with them were so great. They are very deserving.”

The BCERA scholarships are presented to seniors from each county school annually.