The Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Organization of St. Charles Parish hosted its 18th Annual Scholarship Banquet on Sept. 15, at the John L. Dorsey, Multipurpose Center.
Recipients Jaranea Gordon, a graduate of Hahnville High School, and Erin Smith, a Destrehan High School graduate , received scholarships totaling $1000.
Both students are currently enrolled at Southern University in Baton Rouge.
Gordon is studying psychology and Smith is a computer science major.
“After completing my degree in psychology, I plan to continue my education to receive my masters’ degree in this field and eventually, I will pursue my doctorate degree,” Gordon said. “I will use the money to get text books and much needed school supplies. It will definitely be put towards my education.”
Ron Guillory, Valero’s director of human resources and public affairs and security, delivered an encouraging speech to the graduates and other members of the community who attended the event.
“I was pretty good in school, not as good as I could have been, but good enough to receive a scholarship to any university I chose, to study any subject,” Guillory said. “So I majored in Farm Operations and Management at University of Lafayette, in Lafayette.”
Guillory admits that he had his struggles.
“Going to college was a totally new experience for me, a country boy who hardly went to town, moving to a university with over 11,000 students in a large city,” he said. “For two years I had a difficult time in school.”
Guillory did overcome these obstacles and eventually went on to become an executive for Valero, a major oil refinery.
“Life is difficult, but we have to understand that we are responsible for managing these difficulties,” Guillory said. “We are responsible for our own success.
“Many years ago, Dr. Martin Luther King and others worked hard, endured many hardships, insults, imprisonment and ultimately gave their lives so that we could all enjoy the fruits that America has to offer,” he continued. “In memory of Dr. King, we should all take up where he left off and work towards curing the social ills that affect our communities today.”
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