The 2019 YMCA Storer Camp Scholarship Awarded to three Third
Graders.
The 2019 Lesley Harper Sr. Memorial YMCA Storer Camp
Scholarship will be awarded to four third graders at Ella P.
Steward Academy for Girls. Princess Noble, ZaNyia Knox,
Journi Wren and Jayla Spearman will receive a scholarship
for one week of summer camp with horseback riding lessons at
YMCA Storer Camps in Jackson, Michigan.
The selection was made based on academics, citizenship,
attendance and an essay contest.
“I was inspired by
it because I can learn and do new things in camp and make
new friends,” wrote ZaNyia in her winning essay.
Paul D. Thomas
founded the annual scholarship in 2004 in memory of Lesley
Harper Sr. The late Mr. Harper was a local General
Contractor who employed, trained and mentored many young men
and women from the central city area of Toledo, many of them
went on to become very successful in business and
construction.
“I never went to
camp before,” wrote Journi. “I would like to experience what
you do at Camp Storer.” |
Journi Wren,
Jayla Spearman, Princess Noble, ZaNyia Knox
Students - Journi Wren, Jayla Spearman, Princess Noble,
ZaNyia Knox_ Standing - Counselor Shannon Tisdale and Paul
Thomas |
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Paul Thomas was one of those lucky individuals that Mr.
Harper trained and mentored. Mr. Thomas has been a member of
the Carpenters Union for 33 years and is currently a Retired
Senior Representative/Business manager from the
Indiana/Kentucky/Ohio Regional Council of Carpenters. Mr.
Thomas sits on the Board of Directors for YMCA Storer Camps,
YMCA Storer Camps Scholarship Committee and the Properties
Committee.
“I want to learn
new things about camp … I want to meet new people,” wrote
Jayla.
Thomas chose Ella P. Stewart Academy for girls because he
attended Ella P. Stewart before it became an all-girls
school. He chose third graders because it is a great entry
age for summer camp at Storer and his first experience at
Storer summer camp was as a third grader.
He has not been alone in the administration of the program,
he noted. The school’s staff conducts the contest and Jackie
Morris, a third grade teacher at Ella P. Stewart, was
instrumental in helping Thomas start the program 15 years
ago.
This year’s sponsors are John Tharp, Lucas County Sheriff,
and Laborers’ Local 500. The contributors are Books 4
Buddies, Howards-N-Company, Trina Hall, Wesley Harper,
Taneka Thomas and Diane Bowsher
The scholarships were presented on
Friday April 26, 2019 at 10:00 A.M. at Ella P. Stewart
Academy for Girls.
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