For the 14th consecutive year, the local Beta Rho Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma International is providing two $500 scholarships to local high school senior females who plan to pursue a college degree in education.

This local group of professional educators is pleased to encourage and support young ladies — our country’s future teachers. This year, a senior from Franklinton High School and a senior from Pine High School will receive a scholarship for $500 each, to be used toward their educational pursuits.

The scholarship recipients are Mackenzie Angelo from Franklinton, and Sydney Thomas from Pine.

Mackenzie Angelo

Angelo is the daughter of Chad and Sonya Angelo. Angelo has been influenced by her mother, who is her greatest role model and also a teacher. She has been approached by previous students of her mother’s, and told of the impact she made on their lives. Having her mother exemplify how important and wonderful the education field can be, her thoughts of becoming a teacher increasingly more clear each day. Angelo is an honest, hard worker who is eager to learn new techniques to improve her skills as an educator.

At Franklinton High School, she was very active in the Beta Club, the National Honor Society, 4-H club, Book Club, Demonettes, Diamond Girls, FFA, Interact Club, Student Council, Autism Run, Clothes for a Cause, Christmas Child shoeboxes, Library Club, mock trial, National Technical Honor Society, robotics and the tennis team.

Angelo graduated with 30 hours of college credits from dual-enrollment classes. Three hours of college credits from CLEP testing. She also earned many volunteer hours in her various clubs, organizations, and community service. She graduated with a 4.29 grade-point average.

She plans to attend Southeastern Louisiana University in the fall of 2019, to prepare herself to become a teacher.

“My personal goals are also a source from where my aspirations come from,” Angelo said. “I want to become a teacher because it would be amazing to have a beneficial impact on students that pass through my classroom each year. To play a part in shaping future generations through education would be one of the best experiences and biggest goals of my teaching career.”

Sydney Thomas

Thomas is the daughter of Ronald and Ramona Thomas. Thomas fell in love with the desire to teach at a very early age. Her favorite thing to do was helping with the younger children of the family, desiring to teach them new things, like how to walk, or how to tie their shoes, or play a game. Volunteering in the church nursery and babysitting were eye openers for her to realize her love for children, and the patience this kind of love takes.

Thomas graduated with a 4.1569 grade-point average. She graduated with four dual-enrollment courses and one AP course.

Thomas was active in the following activities at Pine: Beta Club, student council, 4-H club, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, parliamentarian of the senior class, attended Girls State, member of the softball team, Literary Rally, and August Student of the Month.

Thomas was also very active in community services. She was a member of the Trac Club at Bible Baptist, volunteered at Mile Branch, joined a church Christmas drive for children in Mexico, Toys for Tots, served elders at the American Legion luncheon, volunteered for church nursery and children’s programs, and worked at Little Feet.

Thomas plans to attend William Carey University in the fall of 2019 to pursue a degree in teaching biology.

“The most important reason I would like to become a teacher is that I want to better a child’s life,” Thomas said. “Whether it be teaching colors and numbers or just showing a child love, I want to leave my students with a lasting impression.”