Dollars for Scholars

Tyler Barnett

Tsipporah Christopher

Jared Grimes

Rajan Hoyle

Morris Jackson

Students from eight area high schools were recently awarded nearly $14,000 in scholarships from the memorial fund of Star Achievers Dollars for Scholars, an affiliated chapter with the parent company, Scholarship America.
Each year scholarships are given in memory of pre-teen Adrienne J. Dugas and Rev. Henry Ford, longtime pastor of St. Mark Baptist Church in Long Beach. In their own way, both made a positive difference in the lives of those they came in contact with.
Adrienne was a 12-year-old honor student at Artesia's Faye Ross Middle School, active in band and girl's basketball, when she died suddenly from a brief illness in 1992.
Rev. Ford was the Pastor of St Mark Baptist Church from 1964 until his death in 1987. He was devoted to Long Beach and serve in many areas including Chairman of the Poly High Redevelopment Project Area Committee and President of the United Ministerial Alliance of Long Beach.
In 1993, the Dugas and Ford families collaborated and founded the Star Achievers Dollars for Scholars. The motto adopted by the Star Achiever's Chapter, "If I can help somebody along the way, then my living will not be in vain," epitomizes the short life of Adrienne and the life of Rev. Ford.
This year marks the 19th year Adrienne's parents, Edmond and Lenora Dugas and Rev. Ford's widow, Arbedella Ford, have given scholarships for more than 150 college-bound high school students.
Recipients of this year's scholarships are: Cera Smith, Tyler Barnett and Tsipporah Christopher of Cerritos High School; Rajan Hoyle, Rebekah Oragwu, Anthony Welch and Taijhe Kelly of Poly High School; Christopher Odudu of Mayfair High School; Jared Grimes of Wilson High School; Morris Jackson of Norwalk High School; Violett McClay of Jordan High School Marcel Jones and Tierra Moore of Lakewood High; and Alvinisha Joseph of Pacific Palisades High School.
The Star Achievers is grateful for the continued financial support of family, friends and corporate sponsors: Southern California Edison, Employees Fund of Boeing California and The Chesterfield Home Depot.