Renecia Hodges, who is on her way to Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond to study nursing, and Briaunna Stallings, who plans to take the same course of study at Southern University in Baton Rouge, have been named the winners of the annual Frank E. Stokes Memorial Scholarship Award.

Both recipients are 2012 honor graduates of Bogalusa High School.

The Stokes scholarship was created to honor a local fallen hero who was both a paratrooper and a musician, said Marvin Austin, who is among the group of area residents who decided in 2005 to establish the memorial.

Stokes, the son of Jack and Sally Stokes, died while serving his country in Vietnam. He attended Central Elementary and Central Memorial High School, where he was a drummer in the band.

In November 1967, during one of the bloodiest battles of the Vietnam War, Stokes was assisting a wounded comrade on a Medivac helicopter when the chopper was shot down and all aboard were killed, said Austin.

The scholarship is designed to honor the memory of the man by offering opportunity to local students. To donate to the fund or for additional information, call Austin at 732-1867.